What Do I Need to Fill Out My FAFSA?

For decades, FAFSA is a lengthy form, and can be a confusing one. Thanks to the FAFSA Simplification Act , a new, simplified FAFSA form with fewer questions has been created.

Along with the easier-to-complete form where students have to answer a smaller set of questions, there’ll be changes in how financial aid is calculated.

As you prepare to fill out the FAFSA, one of the first things you need to do is to create an FSA ID — which acts as your signature, and most importantly, to retrieve income records from the tax year two years prior.

Once you’ve assembled all the necessary materials, filling out the FAFSA should be a fairly simple task. If you don’t have all the documents ready yet, it is perfectly okay to start your FAFSA, save it, and come back later to finish it.

Here’s a checklist of documents you’ll need to get you started.

Be sure to keep all of the documentation that you gather to complete the FAFSA. You may need them later if your application is chosen for verification.

Personal Documents

1. Your Social Security Number (SSN)
2. Driver’s license number and state of issuance (if any)
3. Alien Registration Number (if an eligible non-citizen)

If you are a dependent student, you may also need records of your parents’ income information.

1. The Social Security Number(s) of your parent(s)
2. The income and financial records (as listed below) of your parent(s)

Proof of Income

1. Taxable income from W—2 & 1099 forms (if available)
2. Records of any untaxed income (such as child support received, workers’ comp, military allowances, etc.)

Tax Documents

1. “Prior prior year” federal tax return (Form 1040). For the 2026—2027 FAFSA, you’ll use the information on your 2024 tax return, not your 2025 return.
2. The equivalent foreign tax return (if applicable).

Assets

1. Bank statements as of the date the FAFSA is completed. Current balances of cash, savings, checking, and other accounts.
2. Business and investment information: stocks, bonds, business and farm records and other investment records (as applicable)