Editing FAFSA (section)

==Preparation and filing options==
The FAFSA is made available to the public on October 1 every year for the future academic year. 

Since the 2017–2018 [[academic year]], it becomes available on October 1 every year. The US Department of Education made the FAFSA available earlier to more closely align the timing of the financial aid application process with the typical college application process.<ref name="PPY">{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/08/28/fafsa-what-to-do-2017/89358650/ | publisher=[[Detroit Free Press]] | title=Oct. 1 is a new kickoff for FAFSA headaches: What do you do next? | date=August 28, 2016 | access-date=January 5, 2017 | author=Tompor, Susan}}</ref> The FAFSA Deadline Act in 2024 made the October availability date part of the law.<ref>{{Cite web |title=H.R.8932 - FAFSA Deadline Act |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/8932/summary/00 |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Congress.gov}}</ref> The 2016–2017 academic year was the final time the FAFSA was not made available until January 1.<ref name="PPY" />

Two-year old US tax information is used to complete the financial sections of the FAFSA beginning with the 2017–2018 academic year. This change in using "prior-prior tax year" information enables families to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in the FAFSA to verify their tax information without a delay from the IRS processing tax information.<ref name="PPY" /> Some financial aid is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and students are encouraged to submit a FAFSA as soon as possible.<ref name="PPY" />

According to the U.S. Department of Education's website, students have three options for filling out the form:<ref>{{cite web|title=FAFSA Filing Options|url=https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out#options}}</ref>

* online at {{URL|https://studentaid.gov/}} (Other websites such as fafsa.com, fafsa.net, may appear to be official but most of these sites charge a fee for assistance) (FAFSA stands for the Free application For Federal Student Aid so no other website should be used other than the official one listed above)
* in the myStudentAid mobile app
*Call 1-800-433-3243 to obtain a PDF of the form

The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 authorized fee-based FAFSA preparation.<ref>Higher Education Act of 2008 Public Law 110–315—AUG. 14, 2008 122 Stat. 3279–80</ref> By law, fee-based FAFSA preparation services must on initial contact with students inform them of the free option and be transparent about their non-affiliation with the U.S. Department of Education and their fees.