When To File the FAFSA

The FAFSA is an application used to collect information to determine your eligibility for financial aid awards. The FAFSA is required for almost all financial aid programs offered by Dallas College. Find out how easy it is to renew your FAFSA form.

Taking continuing education classes? Please see Financial Aid for Continuing Education.

If you are not a citizen and therefore are not eligible for federal aid, you may still be eligible for Texas state aid if you are certified as HB1403 eligible.

The following table provides a summary of key dates for the FAFSA submission time frame and related tax information.

When a Student Is Attending College (School Year) When a Student Can Submit a FAFSA Which Year's Income and Tax Information Is Required
July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025Dec. 31, 2023 – June 30, 20252022
July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026Nov. 18, 2024 – June 30, 20262023

How does filing early benefit me?

You benefit in these ways:

  • Because the FAFSA asks for older income and tax information, you will already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, and you won’t need to estimate your tax information and then go back into the FAFSA later to update it.
  • Because you’ll already have done your taxes by the time you fill out your FAFSA, you may be able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) to automatically import your tax information into your FAFSA. (Learn about the IRS DRT at StudentAid.gov/irsdrt.)
  • Because the FAFSA is available earlier, you may feel less pressure due to having more time to explore and understand your financial aid options and apply for aid before your state’s and school’s deadlines.

Will my FAFSA information from the previous year automatically be carried over if I complete a renewal FAFSA?

No; too much could have changed since you filed your last FAFSA, and there’s no way to predict what might be different, so you’ll need to enter the information again. However, keep in mind that many people are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import their tax information into the FAFSA, making the process of reporting tax information quick and easy.

My family’s financial situation has changed since our previous taxes were filed. What should I do?

You must report the information the FAFSA asks for. If your family’s income has changed substantially since the previous tax year, contact Financial Aid about your family’s situation.

Where can I get more information about — and help with — the FAFSA?