Gather tax information. It is highly recommended that you file your taxes prior to submitting your FAFSA form, because you will need much of the same information. Nevertheless, you can submit a provisional FAFSA and update the form once you've finished your taxes. When you start your FAFSA, you will need to know your income for the previous year and your tax liability, or have reasonable estimates.
Apply for a PIN. Your Personal Identification Number, or PIN, will be used to electronically access and sign your FAFSA. To apply for a PIN, go to pin.ed.gov and provide the information requested, including your name, address, date of birth, email address, and Social Security number. You can choose your own PIN or have one assigned to you.
Create a FAFSA account. Go to fafsa.ed.gov and select "Fill out your FAFSA." You will be prompted to choose the school year for which you are submitting a FAFSA and shown the Web browser requirements. You will then land on a login screen that you can also use to register for a FAFSA account. You will need your Social Security number, full name, and date of birth. You will also create a password for your account.
Input financial and demographic information. The bulk of the FAFSA form requires inputting data about yourself. This includes demographic information of your age, sex, and race, financial information such as your earnings and expenses, and tax information including any dependents you might have. If you are not independent, you will also have to provide tax information about your parents.
Sign and submit. When the FAFSA form is complete, enter your PIN to submit the form. If you are not independent and had to provide tax information for your parents, your parents will also have to apply for a PIN and electronically "sign" the application.