Data Elements and Justification

Data Elements and Justification

2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form

Purpose: The Data Elements and Justification is provided to accompany the review of the 2024-25 FAFSA form. It identifies the data elements associated with each FAFSA question and provides the justification for including each question on the FAFSA form.

Question Numbers(s)#	Data Element(s)	Data Element(s) Justification
1	Student Identity Information First name Middle name Last name Suffix Date of birth Social Security number (SSN) Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) The ITIN is collected when the student doesn’t have an SSN.	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)- Additional Data Element specific to FUTURE Act
2	Student Contact Information Mobile phone number Email address Permanent mailing address City State ZIP code Country	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
3	Student Current Marital Status	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
4	Student College or Career School Plans Grade level in college 20XX-20XX First bachelor's degree before 20XX - 20XX school year Pursuing teacher certification	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act Pursuing Teacher Certification- Additional Data Element Required for Eligibility Determination
5	Student Personal Circumstances- Active duty Veteran Children or other dependents Orphan Ward of court Foster care Emancipated minor Legal guardianship None of these apply	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
6	Student Other Circumstances: Unaccompanied and homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless Entity who provided homeless or self-supporting and at risk of homelessness determination: Director or designee of an emergency or transitional shelter, street outreach program, homeless youth drop-in center, or other program serving those experiencing homelessness The student’s high school or school district homeless liaison or designee Director or designee of a project supported by federal TRIO or GEAR UP program grant Financial Aid Administrator (FAA) None of these apply	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
7	Student Unusual Circumstances	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
8	Apply for a Direct Unsubsidized Loan Only	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
9	Family Size This question is N/A when the student has been determined to be dependent.	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
10	Number in College This question is N/A when the student has been determined to be dependent.	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
11	Student Demographic Information Gender Is the student transgender?	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
12	Student Race and Ethnicity Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin Race	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
13	Student Citizenship Citizenship status A-number	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
14	Student State of Legal Residence- State Legal residence date	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
15	Parent Education Status	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
16	Parent Killed in the Line of Duty	Additional Data Elements Required for Eligibility Determination
17	Student High School Completion Status- High school (HS) or equivalent completed HS Name City State State-recognized high school equivalent Issuing state	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
18	Federal Benefits Received Earned income Tax Credit (EITC) Federal housing assistance Free or reduced-price school lunch Medicaid Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan (QHP) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) None of these apply This question is N/A when the student has been determined to be dependent.	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
19	Student Tax Filing Status Filed 1040 or 1040-NR Filed non-U.S. tax return Filed joint return with current spouse	Required to Determine Accuracy
Question 20- Student XXXX Tax Return Information
a	Filing status The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
b	Income earned from work The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
c	Tax exempt interest income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
d	Untaxed portions of IRA distributions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
e	IRA rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
f	Untaxed portions of pensions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
g	Pension rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
h	Adjusted gross income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
i	Income tax paid The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
j	EITC received during tax year?	Additional Data Elements Required for Eligibility Determination
k	IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and qualified plans The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
l	Education credits The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
m	Filed Schedule A, B, D, E, F or H? The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
n	Net profit or loss from IRS Form 1040 Schedule C amount The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
o	College grants, scholarships, or AmeriCorps benefits (optional)	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
p	Foreign earned income exclusion	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
21	Annual Child Support Received	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
22	Student Assets Total of cash, savings, and checking accounts Net worth of current investments Net worth of businesses/investment farms	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
23	College Selections	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
24	Student Consent and Signature Consent to retrieve and disclose federal tax information (FTI) Signature Signature date	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
Student Spouse Data Elements must be completed when the student is married or remarried.
25	Student Spouse Identity Information First name Middle name Last name Suffix Date of birth SSN	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
26	Student Spouse Contact Information Email address	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
Student Spouse: The following data elements are N/A unless student is married and did not file a joint tax return with their current spouse.
25	Student Spouse Identity Information ITIN The ITIN is collected when the student’s spouse doesn’t have an SSN.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
26	Student Spouse Contact Information Mobile phone number Permanent mailing address City State ZIP code Country	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
27	Student Spouse Tax Filing Status Filed 1040 or 1040-NR Filed non-U.S. tax return	Required to Determine Accuracy
Question 28: Student Spouse XXXX Tax Return Information
a	Filing status The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
b	Income earned from work The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
c	Tax exempt interest income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
d	Untaxed portions of IRA distributions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
e	IRA rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
f	Untaxed portions of pensions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
g	Pension rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
h	Adjusted gross income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
i	Income tax paid The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
j	IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and qualified plans The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
k	Education credits The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
l	Filed Schedule A, B, D, E, F or H? The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
m	Net profit or loss from IRS Form 1040 Schedule C amount The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
n	Foreign earned income exclusion	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
29	Student Spouse Consent and Signature Consent to retrieve and disclose FTI Signature Signature date	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
Parent: The following data elements are N/A unless student has been determined to be dependent.
30	Parent Identity Information First name Middle name Last name Suffix Date of birth SSN ITIN The ITIN is collected when the parent doesn’t have an SSN.	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)- Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
31	Parent Contact Information Mobile phone number Email address Permanent mailing address City State ZIP code Country	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
32	Parent Current Marital Status	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
33	Parent State of Legal Residence State Legal residence date	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
34	Family Size	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
35	Number in College	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
36	Federal Benefits Received Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Federal housing assistance Free or reduced-price school lunch Medicaid Refundable credit for coverage under a qualified health plan (QHP) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) None of these apply	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
37	Parent Tax Filing Status Filed 1040 or 1040-NR Filed non-U.S. tax return Filed joint return with current spouse	Required to Determine Accuracy
Question 38: Parent XXXX Tax Return Information
a	Filing status The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
b	Income earned from work The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
c	Tax exempt interest income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
d	Untaxed portions of IRA distributions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
e	IRA rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
f	Untaxed portions of pensions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
g	Pension rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
h	Adjusted gross income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
i	Income tax paid The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
j	EITC received during tax year?	Additional Data Elements Required for Eligibility Determination
k	IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE and qualified plans The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
l	Education credits The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
m	Filed Schedule A, B, D, E, F or H? The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
n	Net profit or loss from IRS Form 1040 Schedule C amount The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
o	College grants, scholarships, or AmeriCorps benefits (optional)	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
p	Foreign earned income exclusion	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
39	Annual Child Support Received	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
40	Parent Assets Total of cash, savings, and checking accounts Net worth of current investments Net worth of businesses/investment farms	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
41	Parent Consent and Signature Consent to retrieve and disclose FTI Signature Signature date	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
Other Parent data elements must be completed when the parent is married, remarried, or unmarried and both legal parents living together.
42	Other Parent Identity First name Middle name Last name Suffix Date of birth SSN	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
43	Other Parent Contact Information: Email address	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
Other Parent: The following data elements are N/A unless the parent and other parent listed on the form did not file a joint tax return.
42	Other Parent Identity: ITIN	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
43	Other Parent Contact Information Mobile phone number Permanent mailing address City State ZIP code Country	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
44	Other Parent Tax Filing Status Filed 1040 or 1040NR Filed non-U.S. tax return	Required to Determine Accuracy
Question 45: Other Parent XXX Tax Return Information
a	Filing status The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
b	Income earned from work The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
c	Tax exempt interest income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
d	Untaxed portions of IRA distributions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
e	IRA rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
f	Untaxed portions of pensions The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
g	Pension rollover	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
h	Adjusted gross income The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
i	Income tax paid The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
j	IRA deductions and payments to self-employed SEP, SIMPLE, and qualified plans The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
k	Education credits The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
l	Filed Schedule A, B, D, E, F or H? The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
m	Net profit or loss from IRS Form 1040 Schedule C amount The response to this question may be available through the direct data exchange with the IRS.	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
n	Foreign earned income exclusion	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
46	Other Parent Consent and Signature Consent to retrieve and disclose FTI Signature Signature date	Data Elements Specific to FUTURE Act
Preparer Data Elements are required if someone other than the student, student spouse, parent, or other parent completes the form on the applicant’s behalf.
47	Preparer Identity Information First name Last name SSN Employer Identification Number (EIN)	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
48	Preparer Contact Information Affiliation/Organization Permanent mailing address City State ZIP code	Data Elements Specific to FAFSA Simplification Act
49	Preparer Signature Signature Signature date

Data Elements and Justification

2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) form

Last modified: March 28, 2023 7