To renew your FAFSA, submit a new form for the academic year you’ll attend; last year’s application does not carry over. Choose the correct year, sign in to StudentAid.gov, complete your section and any required contributors’ sections, and submit by the deadlines that apply to your state and school.
As of October 8, 2026, the 2027–28 FAFSA is available for attendance from July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028. It uses 2025 tax information. The 2026–27 FAFSA covers July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and uses 2024 tax information.
Which FAFSA year should a returning student complete?
Choose the form based on the academic year you’ll attend—not the year you last applied. Federal Student Aid’s 2026–27 FAFSA form covers attendance from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, and asks for 2024 tax information. The 2027–28 form covers July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028, and asks for 2025 tax information, according to Federal Student Aid’s FAFSA guidance.
| Form | Attendance period | Tax information requested |
|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 FAFSA | July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 | 2024 tax information |
| 2027–28 FAFSA | July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 | 2025 tax information |
If you’ll attend summer classes, ask your school’s financial aid office which FAFSA year applies. A summer term may not align with the form you would otherwise choose based on the fall-to-spring academic year.
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How to renew your FAFSA
- Confirm the form year. Match the FAFSA to the period you’ll attend. For summer enrollment, contact the school before starting.
- Sign in to StudentAid.gov. Start the applicable FAFSA and select the student role. Each required contributor must use their own StudentAid.gov account; an account cannot be shared. See Federal Student Aid’s account guidance.
- Gather the information you’ll need. The official FAFSA checklist includes account access, contributor information, tax-return access, child-support records if relevant, asset records, and a list of schools to receive the FAFSA.
- Provide tax information and consent. The form uses the tax year associated with its academic year. Federal tax information can be transferred from the IRS, but the student and every required contributor must provide consent and approval—even if they did not file a federal or any other tax return. Federal Student Aid states: “You (and your contributors) must provide consent and approval even if you didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return or any tax return at all.”
- Complete all required sections. Depending on your circumstances, a contributor may be a parent, stepparent, or spouse. Each required person must complete their portion, provide consent, and sign. The FAFSA is not complete until all required sections and signatures are submitted.
- Review the submission and follow up. After processing, review your FAFSA Submission Summary and check for messages from Federal Student Aid and your school. Most forms are processed immediately, while some take one to three days, according to Federal Student Aid.
- Check state and school deadlines. Federal, state, and college deadlines differ. Confirm the current dates for your state and every school you’re considering, then submit as soon as you can.
Federal Student Aid estimates that a person’s section typically takes 12 minutes or less to complete. That is an agency estimate for an individual section, not a promise for the whole household or for situations that require extra records or follow-up.
What if your finances have changed?
If your family’s current financial circumstances differ substantially from the tax information on your FAFSA, submit the form and contact the school’s financial aid office to explain the change. A financial aid administrator may adjust FAFSA information based on your circumstances; the school decides whether to make an adjustment, and its decision is final and cannot be appealed to the Department. Do not assume a change will result in a particular adjustment or aid amount.
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What if you missed a FAFSA deadline?
There is no single deadline for every returning student. Federal, state, and school deadlines may be different, and state or institutional aid can have requirements separate from federal aid. Check the dates that apply to your location and schools even if a deadline may have passed.
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education, explains: “Missing a state deadline doesn’t impact your eligibility for federal student aid, so fill out your FAFSA form even if your state deadline has passed.” This concerns federal eligibility; it does not mean you remain eligible for state or school aid after that program’s deadline. See the FAFSA Application page and Federal Student Aid’s overview of the three FAFSA deadlines.
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