Filling Out the FAFSA: My Parents Are Married

If your parents are married and live together, both of your parents' information must be included on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, only one might have to actively contribute to your form, depending on their tax filing status:

• Your parents are married and file taxes jointly. Only one parent is required to be a FAFSA contributor. They will report information for both parents.

• Your parents are married and file taxes separately. Both parents must contribute to your FAFSA individually.

If your parents refuse to contribute to your FAFSA or they don't consent to a direct data transfer from the IRS, you won't be eligible for federal student aid.

There are very few situations where you can get a dependency override, such as abuse, neglect, incarceration or unknown parental whereabouts.

» MORE: FAFSA checklist for 2025-26

Steps for filling out the FAFSA for students with married parents

1. Request your FSA ID from FAFSA.gov. This is the username and password you'll use to log into the FAFSA.

2. Fill out your portion of the FAFSA and submit it.

3. If your parents file taxes jointly, only one parent needs to request an FSA ID, which they will use to fill out and submit their portion of the FAFSA. This parent must select "married" as their current martial status, and "married filing jointly" as their tax filing status.

4. If your parents do not file taxes jointly, both parents need to request their own FSA IDs, then fill out and submit their portions of the FAFSA. Both parents must select "married" as their current martial status, and "married filing separately" as their tax filing status.

5. Once your parent(s) also submit their portion of the FAFSA, the Education Department will process your form within about three days.

» MORE: Learn about the best student loans for parents