There is only one genuine FAFSA application website. There are, however, several fake sites. Some take you through the whole process identical to the one on the government website only to find out when you are done, that they charge you a fee for "helping" you file the application. The first word in the acronym is the word "Free." Do not pay to file a FAFSA. Some just want access to your sensitive information. You will be entering Social Security numbers, dates of birth, income information and more. This is all someone needs to commit identity theft. The genuine site is in the Resources section of this article.
The deadline for many colleges receiving the FAFSA application is just after tax season, around the second week of April. Check with the colleges you are applying to for their deadlines to receive federal aid applications. There may be several more forms in addition to the FAFSA that you will have to file. If you miss the deadline, you may have to wait to apply in the following year for the funds you could have received.
You will need a personal identification number (PIN) in order to submit your FAFSA form. If you have filed a previous FAFSA, your PIN is on file, but you may not remember it. If you have not filed before, you will need to visit the Department of Education's website and apply for one (see Resources).
One major problem with the PIN is when you apply the first time, your name and Social Security number are matched against the SSA database. You must use the same name that is on your Social Security card. If you abbreviate your name, you will not get accepted. This can take three business days the first time you do it if you choose the email option. Once you receive it, you have to activate it.
The FAFSA asks for the amount of taxes your family paid in the previous year. Many people enter the amount withheld from their pay. Putting this number in the taxes paid area will greatly reduce the amount of grants you are eligible for. Look on the tax form for the actual amount of taxes paid. On a 1040 form, this is the amount on line 44, not on line 61. Remember that this information is verified and audited, which can cause problems if your answers on the FAFSA form don't match what is on the federal tax return.
Some people use the Head of Household filing status when filing taxes, even if they are not eligible for that status. Claiming that status does increase the amount of a person's refund, but colleges will verify the information that takes the IRS years to get to. If you filed Head of Household and you should have filed Single or Married Filing Jointly, you will have to amend your return and this will delay your FAFSA application.
If you leave any box blank that requires an answer, you may have to verify the information that was supposed to be in that box. This can seriously delay your application and cause you to lose financial aid for that school year. Leaving out the income of step-parents is not an option, regardless of any arrangements that may have been made.
If the numbers on the 1040 don't match the answers on the FAFSA, you could trigger an audit by the IRS and have to submit all W-2 statements and other income information to prove your information.