This slide show walks you screen by screen through filing the 2015-2016 FAFSA using your 2013 taxes. We will soon upload a slideshare on how to update your FAFSA once your 2014 taxes are complete and how to file using your 2014 taxes.

1. How to File the FAFSA

2. Checklist Before You Start

3. Before You Start

4. Go to WWW.FAFSA.Ed.Gov
Click on “Start a New FAFSA”

5. Enter the student’s information and click next.

6. Double check the information you just entered
and then click next.

7. Click on “Start 2015-2016 FAFSA”

8. Choose a password. This will only be needed in the
event you don’t complete FAFSA and need to return to
finish up information.

9. This is an introduction. Click next.

10. On this page you need to enter basic demographic information about
the student. Then click next.
*I recommend entering parent email instead of student email*

11. Answer the dependency questions, then click next.

12. Type in the name of the student’s high school, choose the
state, and then click next.

13. Select your high school then click “confirm.”

14. Search and add the colleges. You can send the FAFSA to
up to 10 colleges at a time.

15. These questions determine if a student is considered
dependent or independent. Read and answer carefully.

16. If student is dependent, click that you will provide
parental information, and then click “next.”

17. Answer questions.

18. Parent’s Demographic Information
•Once you select your parent’s marital status, additional information will
be requested.
•If your parents are divorced or separated, you will need to include the
date of divorce or separation.
•In the event that your parents are divorced, you will need to enter the
information for the parent with whom the student lives more than 50%
of the time. It doesn’t matter who claims the tax deduction.
•The number in college includes the student filling out the form, even if
he or she is still in high school.
•However, the number in college doesn’t include any siblings who may
be in graduate school.

19. Answer all questions then click “Next.”

20. If you are filing on an estimated basis, select
“Will File” then answer the question on filing status.

21. See next slide for tips on how to answer
these questions.

22. Your Adjusted Gross
Income comes from here

23. Mother and father’s income from work
comes from here.

24. Answer income related questions, then answer “yes” to
dislocated worker only if you are currently unemployed.
Then click “next.”

25. See next slides for tips on how to answer these questions.

26. “Taxes Paid”
comes from here.

27. “Number of Exemptions”
comes from here.

28. “Contributions to retirement plans” come from here.

29. Notes About Assets:
•The first question is about the balance of cash, savings, and checking you have.
•Remember, Investments do not include the home in which your parents live;
cash, savings and checking accounts; the value of life insurance and retirement
plans (401[k] plans, pension funds, annuities, noneducation IRAs, Keogh plans,
etc.).
•Business value is the liquidation value of all assets of the business.
•Remember, Business value does not include the value of a small business if
your family owns and controls more than 50% of the business and the business
has 100 or fewer full-time or full-time equivalent employees.

30. Review all questions, especially those about tax credits
and untaxed income. When done, click “next.”

31. Now come questions about the student’s income and
assets. If the student didn’t work or didn’t earn enough
money to file taxes choose “Not going to file.”

32. Even if you aren’t filing taxes, you will need to enter the
amount of money earned from work. If none, enter “0”
then click “Next.”

33. This is where you enter untaxed income information and
asset information. If a 529 plan is owned by the parent, it
counts as a parent asset. Assets are as of the day you apply.

34. Click here to print a
copy of your
information for your
records.
Both the student and
the parent must sign.
You can do so with a
pin number, if you
already have, or apply
for a pin by clicking
here. Both the student
and one of the parents
must have a pin.
The parent and
student must
also both agree
to the “Terms of
Agreement.”
If you don’t want to sign online, you can print a
signature page and mail it in.

35. Don’t stop until you see this page. Below the list of school
information, you will see your EFC and also be able to ask to have
a copy of this confirmation emailed to yourself.

36. • James Maroney
jmaroney@firstchoicecollege.com
75 New Haven Avenue, Milford, CT 06460
www.firstchoicecollege.com
(800) 575-0950
@1stChoiceColleg
Facebook.com/FirstChoiceCollegePlacement