filing-the-fafsa-2015-2016-edition

Filing the FAFSA 141
Data Match Errors
• Using the wrong Social Security Number will cause a data match error on the FAFSA. This can
include substituting the Social Security Number of a sibling for the student or swapping the
student and parent Social Security Numbers. Another variation is using a Taxpayer Identification
Number (TIN) for someone who does not have a Social Security Number. If a parent does not have
a Social Security Number because the parent is not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, use 000-
00-0000 as his or her Social Security Number. Do not make up a Social Security Number or use a
stolen Social Security Number.
• Failing to use the student and parents’ correct legal names. The name on the FAFSA must match
the name on the Social Security card. Do not use a nickname or informal name. If the Social
Security card uses a maiden name, use that name on the FAFSA. Then, contact the Social Security
Administration (www.ssa.gov) to get the legal name updated in its records.
• Failing to write the first and last names in the correct fields. Students sometimes get confused
because the FAFSA asks for the last name first.
• Errors in the date of birth. Surprisingly, some parents misremember the year in which they were
born. Don’t substitute the current year for the year of birth. Write the date of birth in the order
month, day, year (MM/DD/YYYY), not day, month, year (DD/MM/YYYY).
• Citizenship match failures. The student’s Social Security Number is used to check the student’s
citizenship status. Sometimes, students who have become U.S. citizens or permanent residents
after entering the United States have not contacted the Social Security Administration to have the
citizenship status associated with their Social Security Number updated.
• Wrong address. The address listed on the FAFSA should be the student’s permanent home address,
not the campus address or a temporary summer address. Ideally, this address should be the same
as the one used on federal income tax returns.
Errors Involving Taxes
• The FAFSA asks for the federal income tax figure from a specific line of the federal income tax
return. Do not report the total tax figure, which includes other taxes. Do not add self-employment
tax to the total. Do not use the total payments figure from the federal income tax return. Do not use
the income tax refund amount. Do not report the amount of taxes withheld on the W-2 form.
• Some applicants accidentally report their adjusted gross income (AGI) in the federal income tax
field, since the two data elements are adjacent. The FAFSA will be rejected if the federal income tax
is equal to the AGI.