Some corrections can be made online, but an amended tax return, job loss, reduced income, or other significant financial change may require review by a school’s financial aid office instead of replacing FAFSA tax data yourself.
Confirm that the form was processed
Open the submitted FAFSA form from “My Activity” in the student’s StudentAid.gov account. A processed form provides access to the FAFSA Submission Summary and correction options. Contributors do not receive their own copy of the student’s Submission Summary.
Review all four parts of the Submission Summary
Check Eligibility Overview, FAFSA Form Answers, School Information, and Next Steps. Look for rejected items, missing consent or signatures, incorrect contact information, contributor problems, or a school that was omitted.
Start the official correction
Select the processed FAFSA form and use the applicable action to make a correction or add or remove schools. Update only the fields that need correction, review the form again, obtain any required contributor action, and submit the correction. Saving a draft is not the same as submitting it.
Add or remove schools carefully
The online FAFSA form can list up to 20 schools at one time. Removing a school after it already received the record does not erase information previously sent. Add the correct federal school code and confirm that the school appears in the updated submission history.
Correct identity or contact information in the right place
Some personal details, such as contact information or an SSN correction after account matching, may begin in StudentAid.gov account settings and then require a FAFSA correction. Follow the instructions shown for the specific field.
Contact the financial aid office about special circumstances
If income dropped, employment changed, a tax return was amended, unusual medical expenses arose, or family circumstances changed, contact each school’s financial aid office. The school can explain its documentation and professional-judgment process. A correction is not guaranteed to increase aid.
Watch school, state, and federal deadlines
A correction deadline does not replace earlier state or school deadlines. Submit corrections as soon as accurate information is available and follow any separate deadline in a verification or financial-aid notice.
Keep proof and review the new result
Save the confirmation and check the updated FAFSA Submission Summary after processing. Make sure every intended school received the correct transaction and respond promptly if a school requests verification documents.