The FAFSA checklist

Gather the documents you need; You’ll need your Social Security card (IMPORTANT! use the name shown on your card on the application. It must appear exactly as it appears on this card), driver’s license, income tax returns (2 years including current), and investment records. You will need records of income earned in the year prior to when you will start school. You may also need records of your parents´ income information if you are a dependent student.

List of documents you should have on hand while preparing the FAFSA:

For the 2009-2010 school year you will need financial information from 2008. You will need to refer to:
Your Social Security Number. Be sure it is correct!
Your driver's license (if any)
Your 2008 W-2 Forms and other records of money earned
Your (and your spouse’s, if you are married) 2008 Federal Income Tax Return.
IRS 1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ, Foreign Tax Return, or Tax Return for Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Marshall Islands, the Federal States of Micronesia, or Palau
Your Parents´ 2008 Federal Income Tax Return (if you are a dependent student)
Your 2008 untaxed income records
Veterans benefits records
Child support received
Worker's compensation
Your current bank statements
Your current business and investment mortgage information, business and farm records, stock, bond and other investment records
Your alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen)

Keep these records! You may need them again. Do not mail your records to Federal Student Aid.

If this is your first year applying (for the coming Fall Term), make sure you complete your income taxes early (no later than mid February). I know this seems unfair but if you want to maximize your financial aid chances this will be key to your success. The earlier you submit your FAFSA application the better. If you are the student filling out this application, get your parents information early. Note some schools and states have their own deadlines. Contact them for exact deadline dates. This will impact your FAFSA deadline

Print a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet. This will give you all the questions you need to answer so that you can move through the application quickly once you start. Write in your answers and gather your parents' information then transfer the data to FAFSA on the Web.

Plan how to sign your FAFSA. Sign electronically with a Personal Identification Number (PIN) or by mailing in a signature page. If you intend to use a pin, you must access a separate website to apply. You should have this in advance – again to speed the process. Apply for a PIN now! http://www.pin.ed.gov/PINWebApp/appinstr.jsp

The PIN Application is for students and parents who do not already have a Federal Student Aid PIN and would like to apply for one. The PIN Application Process consists of 3 steps:

Enter Personal Information
Submit Your PIN Application
Receive Your PIN

Again - apply as early as possible beginning January 1st of each year.