Step 2: Gather This Information
This checklist will prepare you to fill out the FAFSA
If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and dependent student
- Your Social Security card.
- If you’re not a US citizen, your Permanent Alien Registration Number
- Your driver's license (if you have one).
- Your 2022 W-2 forms.
- Your 2022 federal and state income tax return and all schedules.
- Your 2022 untaxed income records (child support for any of student's children, interest income, Veterans non-education benefits, workers’ compensation benefits, other money received or paid on your behalf).
- Your current bank statements.
- Your FSA ID.
- Your email address.
- Your parent’s Social Security Number, if applicable.
- Your parent's birthdate.
- Your parents' federal and state income tax returns and all schedules.
- If applicable, your parent’s date of divorce or separation (month/year).
- Your parents' 2022 W-2 forms.
- Your parents' bank statements.
- Your parents' untaxed income records (untaxed portion of pension benefits, untaxed payments to tax deferred pensions and retirement savings, untaxed portion of IRA distributions, workers’ compensation or disability benefits)
- Your parents' current business and investment records.
- Your parent’s FSA ID.
- Your parent’s email address.
If you are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen and independent student
- Your Social Security card.
- Your driver's license (if you have one).
- Your 2022 W-2 forms.
- Your 2022 federal income tax return.
- Your 2022 untaxed income records.
- Your current bank statements.
How Do I Know if I am a Dependent or Independent Student?
Step 3: Get Started!
- Visit http://www.fafsa.ed.gov to start the FAFSA.
- To speed up your application process and avoid mistakes, transfer your 2021 federal tax return information directly into your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
- If you choose not to, you may use the materials you gathered in Step 2 to answer the questions.
- Submit!
IMPORTANT: Are you planning to attend a New York State College? Complete the NYS Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) Application directly from the FAFSA using the link on the confirmation page of your FAFSA.
Don't make these common mistakes when filling out your FAFSA.
What Happens Next
Filled out the FAFSA and wondering what happens next? Check out this video to learn what to expect after completing the FAFSA.
Renew Your FAFSA Every Year of College
Remember, you need to complete the FAFSA not just once, but every year you plan to attend college. If you filled out a FAFSA the year before, you can use the renewal FAFSA.
Mark Your Calendar!
The FAFSA opens on October 1.