If someone charges a fee to help you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you should tell that person to list him or herself as a "preparer" at the end of your FAFSA. The preparer should provide his or her Social Security Number or Employer Identification Number (EIN) to verify that the information reported is correct to the best of his or her knowledge.

Remember that the FAFSA is completely FREE. You do not have to pay anyone to fill it out for you. Here are some free tools to help you fill out the FAFSA:

• Contact the financial aid office at your college.
• Click Need Help? at the bottom of any FAFSA on the Web entry page.
• Read the Help & Hints located on the right side of any FAFSA on the Web entry page.
• Call the Customer Service Center toll free at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).
• Chat with live technical support staff by clicking the Contact Us icon at the top of any FAFSA on the Web entry page.