[FAFSA®] Do I need to put the same parent for FAFSA® as the one who claims me as a dependent on their tax forms?

No. Dependency on tax forms is different from parent dependency on the FAFSA®. You may choose to report a different parent (or set of parents) for the FAFSA® than the one(s) that claim you as a dependent on their taxes. In fact, even if a parent claims you as a dependent on their taxes, you may qualify as “independent” for FAFSA® purposes.

Here’s how you choose the right parent, and here’s how you know if you’re independent.