Cost & Aid

Income Documentation

One of the factors considered in evaluating financial aid eligibility is your family's income. Here are some tips for submitting the correct information with your aid application.

  1. Submit the correct year's income documentation
    • Financial aid operates on a prior-prior system—this means you should submit your parents' federal tax return for the year that is two years prior to the year you plan to enter college.
    • If you plan to apply to the class of 2025, for example, you will enter Princeton in fall 2021 and should submit your parents' 2019 federal tax return.
    • This is also the information you will report on the PFAA and the FAFSA.
  2. Upload your documentation directly to your financial aid portal
    • Once you submit the PFAA, you'll be able to upload tax documents. This is the best way to submit your documentation to our office.
    • The tax return upload should include the Form 1040 federal income tax return, all schedules, and W-2 statements.
  3. Be sure to report nontaxed income
    • In addition to your parents' income reported on the federal tax return, you will also report nontaxed income.
    • The most common forms of nontaxed income are contributions to tax-deferred savings plans, child support received from another household, VA benefits and housing allowances.
  4. What if my parent did not file a U.S. federal income tax return?
    • If your parent is a U.S. citizen and is not required to file a U.S. federal income tax return, a Non-Filer Statement must be uploaded after you submit the PFAA. Sources of income should be listed on this form with supporting documentation (e.g., W-2 statements, disability benefit statements) for each source.
    • If your parent is a Canadian citizen, the eight-page T1 General for 2019 must be uploaded after you submit the PFAA.
    • If your parent files a tax return in their country of residence, both the original and a full certified and translated copy of the return (if not in English) should be uploaded after you submit the PFAA. If your parent is not required to file a tax return, a Non-Filer Statement must be submitted in lieu of tax information. Sources of income (e.g., interest, employment income, real estate income) should be listed on this form with supporting documentation for each source.

Confidentiality Policy

The financial aid office uses all available measures to hold sensitive data in strict confidence. Electronic material is protected with current technological safeguards to prevent unauthorized access. Paper records are similarly held in safe storage, and disposed when necessary in a proper manner such as shredding. There are strict limitations on sharing information with parties other than students and their immediate family members. Organizations outside the University must obtain permission from the student and provide a signed release before receiving aid records. Princeton’s confidentiality policy assures families that their financial aid information will be used only for its intended purpose.