Federal Tax Information (FTI) in the FAFSA
Recent changes to how Federal Tax Information (FTI) are used for completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has resulted in restrictions – and a lack of clarity – on how FAFSA and FTI data may be used by institutions to understand student experiences and outcomes as well as how that data is reported to other data collections. The Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) published a blog post on August 13, 2024, describing some of the questions, challenges, and recommended actions for the Department of Education. The blog was informed, in part, by conversations with institutional research offices who shared concerns about how FTI restrictions might impact research and the availability of, and use of, key data.