How to Complete FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

What You Need Before You Begin Financial Student Aid Identification Number (FSA ID) Social Security number for you and your parents Tax information (and for your parents if you are a dependent)

How to Obtain A FSA ID (Skip these steps if you already have A FSA ID!)

Step 1 Go to the FSA ID Website  Search for FSA ID or type in

Step 2 Create FSA ID Login  Select the “Create An FSA ID” tab.  Enter your information.  Click Continue.

Step 3 Identity  Enter your Social Security Number.  Enter your information.  Click Continue.

Step 3 Link Your Pin to Your FSA ID (optional)  This page will allow you to link your Pin number to your FSA ID  Enter your information.  Click Continue.  You will then get this screen.  Click Continue.

Step 4 Challenge Questions  Create five challenge questions and answers.  Click Continue.

Step 5 Review and Confirm  Review and confirm  Enter in the CAPTCHA security words.  Certify the document.

Step 6 Verify Your  A security code will be sent to your .  Enter the code provided in your .  Click Continue.

Confirmation Page  This page confirms that the FSA ID has been successfully created.  You can return to the login screen if you need to, or you can just close the window.

Step 1 Go to the FAFSA Website  Search for FAFSA or type in

Step 2 Start a New FAFSA  Click the Button “Start A New FAFSA  Note: During this presentation Gus Grenadier will be used to model what to do!

Step 3 Enter Your FSA ID or Student Information  If you know your FSA ID click “Enter your FSA ID”.  If you do not have an FSA ID, click “Enter the student’s information”.  After selecting either “FSA ID” or “Enter student info” click Next  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

Step 3 Enter Your Student Information Cont.  If you selected “Enter the students Information, Fill out: o Student’s first and last name o Student’s Social security number o Students date of birth  After filling out the information click Next.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

Step 4 Choose A FAFSA to Fill Out  Click either the current academic year or the next academic year.

 Create a “Save Key” or password for your application.  Note: The password is used to return to the application later if you have to stop working on it before you are able to sign and submit.  Click the Next button.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”. Step 5 Create a Save Key

 This page is the introductory / frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.  Click the Next button. Step 6 Introductory / FAQ

Step 7 Enter Demographic Information  The first page is the student demographic information section. Your basic information goes here.  After filling out the information click Next.  Note: You will need your Social Security Number.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

Step 7 Student Demographics Continued  This screen will ask for more specific information about you.  After filling out the information click Next.  Note: IF you are an incoming freshman from high school, remember to select 1 st Bachelor’s Degree.

Step 8 School Selection

Step 8 School Selection Continued  If you search by state, city and school name, the available schools will populate.  Select the school(s) you want then click the ADD>> Icon.  After selecting the school(s) you want, click Next.

Step 8 School Selection Continued

Step 9 Dependency Determination  This section determines whether you qualify as either a dependent or independent student.  If you qualify as an independent student, based on your answers to these questions, you do not have to answer questions about your parents.  After filling out the information click Next.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

Step 9 Dependency Determination You will see one of these screens:  Dependent  Independent

Step 10 Parent Demographics Information  This section asks questions about your parents / guardians.  Note: You will need your parents / guardians Social Security Number (SSN)  After filling out the information click Next.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

Step 11 Financial Information  This section deals with your parents tax information  Note: For dependent students this section requires tax information for you and your parents.  Note: For independent students this section requires tax information for you (and your spouse, if married).  Note: If eligible, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.

(Skip these steps if you know how to use the DRT!) How to Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool IRS Data Retrieval Tool Taxes IRS Data Retrieval Tool

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)  This page lets you know you will leave the FAFSA on the web.  Your data will be saved.  Then Click OK.

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)  You are now on the IRS website  The window that comes explains that this is an official government site. What you do on this site can / will be monitored.  Click OK.  Note: You can return to the FAFSA anytime by clicking on either link.

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)  These fields are pre-filled based on FAFSA responses.  Fill in the rest of the blank fields.  Then click Submit

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)  This screen shows the tax information the IRS has on file.  Check the box under “Transfer my tax information into the FAFSA”.  Then click on the “Transfer Now” button.  Note: you can print this page out for your records.

Using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT)  You will return to the FAFSA and will see a display that says “You have successfully transferred your 2015 IRS tax information”.  Continue to complete the FAFSA. Items requiring tax information will now be marked with “Transferred from the IRS”.  Note: Do not change the information that was transferred from the IRS.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  Enter the parents information into the fields provided.  If you used the Data Retrieval Tool, Items requiring tax information will now be marked with “Transferred from the IRS”.  Note: Do not change the information that was transferred from the IRS.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  Enter the parents information into the fields provided.  Note: If you need assistance you can use the “Help and Hints” box.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  Enter the parents information into the fields provided.  Note: If you need assistance you can use the “Help and Hints” box.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  If there is an error you will see this window pop up. Fields with errors will have a Red “X”.  Note: If you change data that was transferred from the IRS the “Transferred from the IRS” labels will disappear.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  This section will cover the student tax information. The answers to these questions can be found on the corresponding tax return.  IF you want to use the “Link to IRS”, which will transfer your tax information from the IRS to the FAFSA, click “Link to IRS”.  Instructions for “Link to the IRS” can be found on slides 19-23

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  This section will cover your tax information. The answers to these questions can be found on the corresponding tax return.  If you used the Data Retrieval Tool, Items requiring tax information will now be marked with “Transferred from the IRS”.  Note: Do not change the information that was transferred from the IRS.

Step 11 Financial Information Continued  This section will cover your tax information. The answers to these questions can be found on the corresponding tax return.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”.

 This section will cover your tax information. The answers to these questions can be found on the corresponding tax return.  Note: If you get stuck, refer to the “Help and Hints”. Step 11 Financial Information Continued

Step 12 Sign and Submit  This is the final step!!!  After reviewing the information, sign the form using your FSA ID. Then click SUBMIT MY FAFSA NOW  Note: If you do not have a FSA ID click here and create one. Parents will need an FSA ID if they input their tax information

Confirmation Page  You are able to print your application for your records.  When finished, you can leave the page. When you try to close the window you will see this message:  Click “OK” to close the window.

Status Screen  You will see either “Processing” or “Processed Successfully” as the status.  Note: It will take 3-5 days to process the FAFSA. It will then be sent to the school.

Resources FAFSA Website IUS Financial Aid Websitehttps:// IUS Financial Aid Office (812) IUS Bursar Office(812)

QUESTIONS?