What is a Contributor?
A contributor is considered any individual required to provide a signature and consent on the FAFSA form, including the student, student’s spouse, a biological or adoptive parent, and/or the parent’s spouse (step-parent).
Each contributor will now need to provide their consent to their federal tax information (FTI) being included in the FAFSA.
Who is a Contributing Parent?
The contributing parent is no longer the custodial parent, but the parent with the greater income and/or assets. The new 2024-25 FAFSA will have a Parent wizard to help students identify who should be added as a contributing parent. Parent is defined as your biological or adoptive parent and/or the parent’s spouse (step-parent).
Consent is Required for Every Contributor
Consent is required to retrieve and disclose FTI. Every contributor is required to consent. If consent is declined, the student’s FAFSA will not be considered for federal student aid, including grants and loans. A consent is still required even if the student and/or parent didn’t file a U.S. federal tax return or any return at all.