Are there any free filing options or support services?

Our FAFSA filing service is a fee-based service, similar to hiring a tax preparer to assist you with preparing and filing a tax return. But there are a number of other options available to help students with financial aid applications, issues, and questions at no charge. Some of the organizations offering that help are listed below.

FAFSA on the Web
The free application offered from the US Department of Education can be found at www.fafsa.ed.gov. To use this government website to self-prepare your FAFSA application, you'll be asked to apply for and receive a Federal Student Aid PIN number at www.pin.ed.gov, and then return to fafsa.ed.gov to complete your FAFSA application. The entire process at the government website can comprise 20 separate pages or more, but it's hard to beat the price.

Financial Aid Administrators
Sometimes, there's nothing like good old fashioned face-to-face support. This kind of support can most easily be obtained by visiting a Financial Aid Administrator at the college you attend or wish to attend. They most likely have a Financial Aid Administrator on staff, and that administrator's job description includes assisting you with your questions about the process. You may need to make an appointment to visit their office, or you may be able to walk right in. If you have questions about how to prepare your FAFSA, make sure you bring supporting documentation such as identification cards, your most recent tax return, untaxed income records, bank statements, and any investment and business records.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
By visiting www.nasfaa.org you can view online resources available to help you complete the FAFSA. It offers plenty of useful guides and information to assist with the financial aid process.

Federal Student Aid Information Center
The website www.studentaid.ed.gov is provided to you by the US Department of Education. It contains an extensive collection of articles designed to assist in getting the funding you need to continue education after high school. You may also call them at 800-4-FED-AID.