FSA FAQs on Federal Tax Information

Organization

Data Integration Support Center

Description

This supplement expands on the Data Integration Support Center’s (DISC) “Access, Disclosure, and Use of Federal Student Aid Data,” which provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Higher Education Act (HEA), and Privacy Act of 1974 compliance.

Summary

This document addresses the critical distinctions between federal tax information (FTI) and other Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) data elements, following the Department of Education’s guidance in GENERAL-25-08. Understanding these distinctions is essential for state education agencies, institutions of higher education, statewide longitudinal data system (SLDS) administrators, and workforce partners to maintain compliance while maximizing the use of student aid data for legitimate educational purposes.