<p>Hi - First post/first kid going to college. I have been monitoring the forum for help and saw many threads on filing the FAFSA for 10+ schools. Very helpful! I wanted to understand the correction process when my actual tax returns are completed. To recap:
1. On January 2nd, 2011, my D filed her 2011/2012 FAFSA form listing 10 schools (the limit). We used the 'will file' response for our (parent) tax return information.
2. On January 3rd, my D received an email from ed.gov telling her that FAFSA was processed and also providing a link to her SAR (with the 10 initial schools listed).
3. Since the FAFSA processing took place at ed.gov, my D then made corrections to her FAFSA by deleting the 10 initial schools (since the 10 schools will have access to this information) and adding the four (4) additional schools. This correction is 'processing' as I write this.
Questtions:
4. We assume my D will receive a second email fron ed.gov with a copy of her SAR listing only the four (4) 'new' schools. Is this correct?
5. When February rolls around and I have filed my actual parent tax returns for 2010 (hope!),what is the best way to make corrections to all 14 schools? Do I make corrections to the income/tax amounts, change tax return status to 'filed' on the FAFSA while deleting the last four (4) and adding back the first 10 initial schools?
6. If yes, we assume she will receive a third email from ed.gov with an amended SAR listing the 10 initial schools again. Is this correct?
7. Once the third correction is processed (income/tax/tax return status), do we simply make a fourth and hopefully final FAFSA correction for 2011/2012 by deleting the 10 initial schools and adding the four (4) additional schools? [That gets the final 2011/2012 FAFSA/SAR information to all 14 schools.]
8. We wait for the fourth email/SAR from ed.gov. </p>
<p>I know this is long-winded but I want to understand the steps needed to adjust the FAFSA for our actual tax return data. I've searched and haven't found any threads that detail steps 4. to 8. above. I also read that we should keep all the emails from ed.gov for support in case any issues arise with the 14 schools.</p>
<p>Yes to all except #5…you don’t actually need to delete the 4, since you’d just add them on the fourth amendment anyway. I’d probably do the 3rd go-round in “favorites” order since each time you amend you can be selected by the federal processor for verification but may get award letters and eliminate schools before you actually receive the verification notice from the school(s). It’s a pain to be sending out multiple verification packets…been there, done that!</p>
<p>1st Filing, 10 schools, with the estimates, receive email confirmation </p>
<p>2nd Filing delete 10, add the 4 with the estimates, receive email confirmation. CORRECTION 01 </p>
<p>3rd Filing, Taxes are done, make corrections, say your taxes are filed, put in the 10 schools entered, receive email confirmation, CORRECTION 02 </p>
<p>4th Filing, Taxes are done, corrections are already entered, you have already said your taxes are filed, delete the 10 schools, add the 4 schools, receive email confirmation, CORRECTION 03</p>
<p>Does this help? I have done it so many times! Print out everything & file away in folder.</p>
<p>Got it, sk8rmom. That makes perfect sense doing step #5 with the favorites or schools with earliest deadlines.</p>
<p>Can you elaobrate on the ‘federal processor’ and ‘verification’ process? I assume I won’t get any ‘requests’ for steps #1 through #4 since this is based on a ‘will file /estimates’ basis. Assuming no schools have dropped off the list, will all the schools typically request ‘verification’ information when the final FAFSA/SAR is received by them? Is that simply the final tax return or should I be gathering other data as we speak?</p>
<p>Some schools say they verify everybody & send you a form! </p>
<p>Just about all of them will want your tax returns, check their FA websites for specifics, as to when & how? Some privates use the IDOC service on the CSS PROFILE (CollegeBoard website). I have never had to use the IDOC service for sending in tax returns myself. </p>
<p>I send copies of signed tax returns via Certified Mail, with return receipt requested. (the little green postcard) Remember they want copies of all W-2’s & 1099’s that show income. Do not forget to attach those!</p>
<p>I had the same questions regarding the process and am now very clear on what to do. However, I have one big concern. We received our SAR today. How can I be assured that the original 10 schools actually have our data? I am concerned that if I delete them before they get a chance to update their records, then our information will be lost.</p>
<p>Or, is this just the next round of paranoia kicking in?</p>
<p>UL, you don’t have to worry about that at all. Once your FAFSA has been processed, a file is sent to each of the schools you listed. The individual schools will then download that according to their own schedules, which may take a few days to a week, but the data file already exists and it will get there!</p>