Start with your Social Security number and tax records

The FAFSA asks for your Social Security number, date of birth, and driver's license number (if you have one). You will also need your Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID, which is a username and password you create before you start — this is different from your Social Security number and lets you sign the form electronically. If you do not have an FSA ID yet, you can create one at studentaid.gov before you begin.

Bring your most recent tax return and any tax documents your parents filed if you are a dependent student. The FAFSA asks about income from the previous year — so if you are filling it out in 2024, you will report 2023 income. You will need W-2 forms if you worked, 1099 forms if you were self-employed, and your actual tax return (the 1040 or 1040-SR form itself). If you have not filed taxes yet, you can still submit the FAFSA with estimated numbers and correct it later.

Key Takeaways

  • You need your Social Security number, date of birth, FSA ID, and previous year's tax return or tax documents to start the FAFSA.
  • If you are a dependent student, you will also need your parents' Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and their tax records from the previous year.
  • Have your current bank statements and investment records available, because the form asks about cash, savings, and investments you own as of the application date.
  • If you receive untaxed income — such as child support, military housing allowance, or workers' compensation — bring documentation of those amounts.
  • You can file the FAFSA with estimated numbers and update it later if your actual tax return is not ready yet.

Parent information if you are claimed as a dependent

If the FAFSA determines you are a dependent student, you will need to report your parents' information on the form. This means their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and their income and tax information from the previous year. The FAFSA uses a specific definition of dependent — it is not the same as being claimed on a tax return. Most students under age 24 who are not married, in the military, or in graduate school are considered dependent for FAFSA purposes, even if their parents do not claim them on taxes.

You will also need to know whether your parents are married, separated, or divorced. If they are divorced or separated, only the parent you live with most of the time reports their information — unless your parents have a custody agreement that says otherwise. If your parents are remarried, your stepparent's income counts too. Bring documentation of any of these family changes if you have it, though the FAFSA itself does not require you to upload documents at the time you submit.

Bank and investment account details

The FAFSA asks how much money you and your parents have in savings and checking accounts as of the day you submit the form. You do not need to list every account, but you do need to know the total balance. Pull up your most recent bank statements — online banking works fine — and add up all your accounts. The same goes for investments: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and money market accounts all count. Retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs do not count, so you can skip those.

If you own a home or rental property, the FAFSA does not ask about it. However, if you own a business or farm, you will need to report the net worth — the value minus what you owe on it. Have your most recent business tax return available if this applies to you.

Untaxed income and other money you received

The FAFSA asks about income that did not show up on your tax return. This includes child support you received, military housing allowance or basic allowance for subsistence, workers' compensation, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and cash assistance from state or local programs. If you received any of these, gather the documents that show the amounts — a child support order, a military leave and earnings statement, a workers' compensation award letter, or a benefit statement from the program that paid you.

You will also report any money you earned from work-study, on-campus employment, or other student jobs, even if it was not much. If you received a scholarship or grant that paid for room and board (not tuition), that counts as untaxed income on the FAFSA. Bring pay stubs or a letter from your employer showing what you earned.

State residency and school enrollment information

Have your state of legal residence ready — this is usually the state where you have a driver's license or where your parents live. Some states offer additional aid to residents, so this matters. You will also need the names and codes of the colleges or universities you want to send your FAFSA information to. You can list up to 10 schools for free. If you do not know the school codes, you can search for them on the FAFSA form itself as you fill it out.

If you are already in college or have attended before, you may need to report which school you attended and when. Have your college transcripts or enrollment records handy if this applies. You do not need to submit transcripts with the FAFSA, but having them nearby helps you fill out the form accurately.

Citizenship and immigration status documents

The FAFSA asks whether you are a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or have another immigration status. If you are a citizen, you will need your Social Security number. If you are a permanent resident (green card holder), you will need your Alien Registration Number, which is on your green card. If you have a visa or other status, you will need your visa number or the document number from your immigration paperwork.

Some types of immigration status make you ineligible for federal student aid, while others do not. Undocumented students cannot receive federal aid, but some states and colleges offer their own aid to undocumented students regardless. Have your immigration documents available so you can answer the citizenship question accurately.

What you do not need to submit with the FAFSA

The FAFSA itself does not require you to upload or mail any documents when you submit the form. You do not need to attach tax returns, bank statements, or any other paperwork at the time you fill it out. However, after you submit, the school you choose may ask you to verify the information you reported — this is called verification. If your school asks for verification, they will tell you which documents to send and by what date. This usually happens a few weeks after you submit the FAFSA.

Keep all your documents organized and stored safely. Schools typically ask for verification of income, household size, and assets. Having everything in one place makes it faster to respond when a school asks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file the FAFSA if I have not filed my taxes yet?

Yes. You can submit the FAFSA with estimated income numbers based on what you expect to earn or what you earned in previous years. Once you file your actual tax return, you can log back into your FAFSA and update the numbers. Schools prefer you to update it within a few weeks, but you do not have to wait for your tax return to submit the form.

What if my parents are divorced and I do not know my noncustodial parent's information?

Report only the parent you live with most of the time. The FAFSA does not require information from a noncustodial parent unless you have a custody agreement that says otherwise. If you cannot reach that parent or do not have contact with them, you can still submit the form with only your custodial parent's information.

Do I need to report my student loans or credit card debt?

No. The FAFSA does not ask about debt you owe. It only asks about money and assets you own. Student loans you have already taken out do not affect your FAFSA, though they may affect how much additional aid you can borrow.

What if I am independent and my parents do not report their income?

If the FAFSA determines you are independent, you do not report your parents' information at all — only your own. You are independent if you are over 24, married, in the military, a graduate student, or have other specific circumstances. Check the FAFSA's dependency questions to see whether you count as independent.

Can I use last year's tax return if I have not filed this year yet?

No. The FAFSA always asks for the previous calendar year's income. If you are filling out the 2024–2025 FAFSA, you report 2023 income. You cannot use 2022 numbers even if your 2023 return is not ready. Use estimates based on your 2023 earnings and update the form once you file.