Most common FAFSA errors

Question 31 for students, READ CAREFULLY. Don't leave this blank.

Question 41 for students, question 79 for parents: look closely at boxes 1, 5, and 12 on all of your W-2s when completing Worksheet B. Keep Worksheet B.

Question 35 for students, question 73 for parents: use actual figures from completed tax returns when filling out your FAFSA. Most adjusted gross income (AGI) and income tax paid errors are made from using estimated returns.

Questions 36 for students, question 74 for parents: use income tax paid from income tax forms, not the amount withheld from W-2. This does not include self-employment tax. The line item stated on the FAFSA is correct. If the parent you lived with the most in the past 12 months is remarried, you must include stepparent’s income on the application (see page 7 of the FAFSA instructions).

Question 42: students who had taxable work-study earnings in 2003, make sure you complete Worksheet C on page 8 of the FAFSA instructions. Contact the department(s) you worked for to get the exact amount of your work-study earnings from 1/1/2003-12/31/2003. Do not include Miscellaneous Student Employment earnings.