Page 9 - University of California at Los Angeles Insider

2. TAXES DONE!
Before you file your FAFSA it can make your life much easier to have your (and
your dependent student’s) taxes completed. This is because three weeks after you have filed your taxes you can use the Data Retrieval Tool. This is an easy to use tool embedded into the FAFSA that will link your tax information directly from the IRS into your application, saving you pages of forms.
3. NEVER PAY!
FAFSA stands for the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. There are scam websites that will charge you upwards of $80 or more to process your FAFSA for you. www.FAFSA.ed.gov is the only website you should use.
4. NEED HELP?
The FAFSA application has step by step instructions in “Help and Hints.” If you are not sure what a word means or what a question is asking, put the cursor on that spot and look to the right of the screen. There will be a box of definitions listing the meaning of various words and questions as well as listing what can qualify as an answer to that particular question. If you don’t find your answer, contact UCLA’s Financial Aid and Scholarships office at (310) 206-0400.
5. CHECK IN!
After you have submitted your FAFSA, it is a great idea to check in with the college in May to make sure that they have received your student’s application. Sometimes a school will need supporting documentation for a student’s FAFSA.
This content has been edited and reprinted with permission by Southern Utah University Financial Aid Office.
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