INDEPENDENT STUDENT 2021-2022 FAFSA
What do I need to fill out my FAFSA? ü
Your Social Security Number (SSN)
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Your Alien Registration Number (if you are not a U.S. citizen)
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Your 2019 federal tax return (IRS Form 104 or foreign tax return) (Note: You may be able to transfer your federal tax return information to your FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.)
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Your 2019 W-2 forms and other records of money earned in 2019 (if any) Your 2019 untaxed income records (if applicable) Your current bank statements Your current assets (excluding retirement balances and the home you live in) 2019 federal income tax return and current asset information for your spouse, if you are married. An FSA ID (username and password) to sign electronically
Use your FSA ID (username and password) to sign in as the student. If you do not have an FSA ID, click “Create one” and follow the prompts to create your own FSA ID.
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Click “ACCEPT.”
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You will be completing the 2021-2022 FAFSA. The 2021-2022 FAFSA covers Summer 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022.
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A “save key” is a temporary password you’ll use when working on your FAFSA. If you need to stop and save your work, the save key allows you to return to the application at a later time from the point you left off.
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Click “Next.”
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Your information (the student) should be entered as it appears on official government documents. That’s right, no nicknames!
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While not mandatory, it is beneficial to include an e-mail address on the FAFSA form in order to receive important communications about your financial aid.
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Enter your permanent mailing address. If you have an apartment number, you will include it in the first line.
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Answer these questions based on the day you are completing the FAFSA.
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Here at VHCC, you will be seeking one of the following college degrees or certificates: • Associate degree (occupation or technical program); • Associate degree (general education/transfer program); • Certificate/diploma (occupation/technical/education program of less than 2 years); or • Certificate/diploma (occupation/technical/education program of at least 2 years).
When filling out your FAFSA, your grade level does not mean how many years you’ve attended school/college, but rather the status of your progress within your degree or certificate program.
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Male students over the age of 18 must be registered with the Selective Service System to be eligible for financial aid.
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While not mandatory, providing your driver’s license number allows for further confirmation of your identity to the Department of Education.
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If you aren’t sure about the highest school completed by either parent, choose “Other/unknown.”
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Type in the name of your high school and click “SEARCH” at the bottom. Select the appropriate school.
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To send your FAFSA to Virginia Highlands Community College, you will need to enter our Federal School Code: 007099.
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Click the box to the left of Virginia Highlands Community College. Note: you may add up to 10 colleges on your FAFSA.
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The housing plan for VHCC will be “Off Campus.”
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Choose the appropriate marital status as of the day you are completing the FAFSA.
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Question 1: • YES if you have children and they receive more than half of their support from you. • YES if you’re expecting a child who will be born before or during the academic year, and you will provide more than half of the child’s support. • NO if you don’t have children or if your children aren’t receiving more than half of their support from you. Question 2: • YES if other people (other than children and spouse) live with you and receive more than half of their support from you. • NO if you don’t have dependents (other than children and spouse). • NO if you have dependents (other than children and spouse), but they aren’t receiving more than half of their support from you. 21
The FAFSA form will automatically determine a portion of your household size. If you have dependents, and answered the previous question accordingly, make sure to include the number here. If you are the only one in college, type 1.
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This screen lets you know you are considered an independent student. You are not required to report any parent information.
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The 2021-2022 FAFSA uses 2019 tax information. Choose the appropriate answer for each of the three questions. If you are given the option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, use it! The majority of your tax information will be directly transferred from the IRS. 24
NOTICE: The following steps explain how to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. If you cannot use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or you are not provided with the option to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, refer to page 35 to enter your tax information manually.
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Click “OK” to continue with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool.
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Click “OK.” You will be redirected to the IRS website.
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Enter your street address exactly as it appears on your 2019 tax return and click “SUBMIT.” Coralville
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To transfer your tax information, click the box beside “TRANSFER NOW” and then click “TRANSFER NOW.”
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For your protection, the answer to each question is replaced with “Transferred from the IRS.�
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For your protection, the answer to each question is replaced with “Transferred from the IRS.�
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For your protection, the answer to each question is replaced with “Transferred from the IRS.�
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Not sure if you qualify as a dislocated worker? Click the blue “dislocated worker” for more information.
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While most tax questions are directly transferred from the IRS using the Data Retrieval Tool, there are a few questions you must answer manually. If you need to report an amount, make sure it is for the entire year of 2019.
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NOTICE: The following steps explain how to enter your tax information manually. You will need your 2019 tax return, your spouse’s 2019 tax return (if applicable), 2019 W-2s, and any other record of money earned in 2019.
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Click “No Thanks� to begin entering your 2019 tax information manually.
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Enter the amount of your (and if married, your spouse’s) adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2019. This amount is found on IRS Form 1040-line 8b. Note: • If you and your spouse filed separate tax returns, calculate the total AGI by adding line 8b from both tax returns and entering the total amount. • If one of you filed a tax return and the other did not, add line 8b from your IRS Form 1040 to your spouse’s income earned from working (for example, earnings from the W-2 form[s] and/or any other earning statements). 37
Enter your working wages for 2019. For tax filers, enter the combined amounts from IRS Form 1040-line 1 + Schedule 1lines 3 + 6* + Schedule K-1 (IRS Form 1065) Box 14 (Code A). *Lines 3 and 6 and Box 14 [Code A] of IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065) are for tax filers who are self-employed.)
Have additional questions? Click the blue question mark on the right side of the screen for more help! 38
Generally, taxpayers file a Schedule 1 to report income or adjustments to income that can’t be entered directly on Form 1040. Have additional questions? Click the blue question mark on the right side of the screen for more help!
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Income tax paid is the total amount of IRS Form 1040-line 14 minus Schedule 2-line 2. If you and your spouse filed separate tax returns, subtract schedule 2-line 2 from IRS Form 1040-line 14 from both tax returns and enter the total amount. Have additional questions? Click the blue question mark on the right side of the screen for more help!
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The next questions refer to additional financial information from 2019. If you need to report an amount, make sure it is for the entire year of 2019. Have additional questions? Click the blue question mark on the right side of the screen for more help! 41
The following questions must be answered manually by ALL applicants. If you need to report an amount, make sure it is for the entire year of 2019.
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The following questions must be answered manually by ALL applicants. If you need to report an amount, make sure it is for the entire year of 2019.
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It is recommended that you do answer questions about your assets.
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If you’re a student filling out your own FAFSA form or a relative or friend helping a student complete their form for free, you’re NOT a preparer.
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Review your FASFA Summary before going to the next step. If you need to change any of your answers, you should make the correction(s) before clicking “NEXT” at the bottom of the screen.
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Click “Agree” and click “NEXT.”
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Click “SIGN THIS FAFSA” and click “NEXT.”
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If you originally signed into your FAFSA with your FSA ID, you have signed your FAFSA electronically with your FSA ID.
Click “SUBMIT MY FAFSA NOW.”
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CONGRATULATIONS! You have submitted your 20212022 FAFSA! This is your confirmation page. You can print your confirmation page, but you will also be sent one in the email you provided.
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What happens next? 1. You will receive an email from FSA stating your FAFSA was received. 2. VHCC should receive your FAFSA within 3-5 business days after submission. 3. You (the student) are responsible for checking your Student Center’s To-Do List and messages on a regular basis. How to access your To-Do List: Log in to your MyVHCC account g SIS g Student Center If there are items under your To-Do List, you have been selected for verification through the Department of Education. Click on each one for more information on how to complete that item.