Before you start on the FAFSA, gather the following data and documents for parents and students:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- W-2 forms and records of other untaxed income received, such as welfare benefits, Social Security income, veteran’s benefits, or military or clergy allowances
- Federal income tax returns (Form 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) for the most recent year available, and those of your spouse if you’re married
- Current bank statements
- Records of stocks, bonds, mutual funds and other investments
- Current mortgage information
- Alien registration card if you're not a U.S. citizen
- Business or farm records
We advise you to practice filling out FAFSA by downloading and using the free FAFSA worksheet. Doing that will minimize the potential for surprises.
FAFSA tips:
- Apply online — it can save up to a month in processing time
- Make or print copies of everything that you send out
- Read the instructions carefully
- The words "you" and "your" always refer to the student— questions for parents will be specified
- File on time; priority for programs with limited funds is often given to students who file the FAFSA as soon after January 1 as possible
- Report all the required sources of untaxed income such as Social Security, child support and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
- Prepare tax returns as early as possible after January 1, since income and asset figures from your tax return are needed to complete the FAFSA
- Don't leave any fields blank; answer zero or "N/A" if the question does not apply to you
- Sign the paper form; if it’s an electronic version, print out the signature page and mail it (by Express Mail if possible, so you have a record of the postmark)
- Round to the nearest dollar, and do not use commas or decimal points
- Obtain and use the free FAFSA worksheet
- For independent students: household size includes self, spouse, dependents receiving more than half of their support from the student
- For dependent students: household includes self, parents, and parents' other children receiving more than half of their support from parents
- Any item incorrectly completed will cause the form to be sent back, possibly causing the loss of thousands of dollars in financial aid if you miss the filing deadline