Amending the FAFSA and CSS after taxes are done

<p>I know you <em>can</em> do this, but I'm unsure how. </p>

<p>Right now, my family is using 2003 tax returns to fill out the FAFSA and CSS/PROFILE to make sure we get our forms in on time for my application schools' deadlines. How and when do we go back sometime in March (Is that an okay time?) to put in the real 2004 information when our 2004 taxes are ready to go? We have a kind of more-complicated-than-normal situation because my dad is self employed and has an accountant to keep all the books straight etc., so we can't get our taxes for 2004 done any time before then. Even having them done by March is a stretch. </p>

<p>Any help is appreciated! I'm the first kid from my family to go to college, so this is all new to us.</p>

<p>As far as "when" -- well that depends on the individual college. They all have different deadlines for the FAFSA, Profile, copies of W2's, and copies of 2004 returns. You really should check the policy for each college where you've applied, just don't assume that March will be ok. Some do have Feb deadlines. Call the college's FinAid Office if you have special circumstances, they might be able/willing to work with you.</p>

<p>As far as "how" -- for the CSS Profile you take your Profile Acknowledgement, cross out the estimated numbers and write in the actual 2004 figures. You then have to make copies of the corrected Acknowledgement and send it individually to each of the colleges listed. CB does not get involved at this point.</p>

<p>For the FAFSA, if you submitted on line, your pin # will allow you to go in and update with 2004 figures. The instructions are on the FAFSA website, as well as instructions on how to correct if you submitted the paper form.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>

<p>YOu CAN go to the online FAFSA to update and correct it with your 2004 info. </p>

<p>ON the CSS Profile, you CANNOT correct it online, you print out and mail a corrected hard copy to the school, and quite possibly, provide the school a copy of your 2004 return.</p>

<p>Actually you send your hard copy to collegeboard and you must pay for ea school. College board changes your on line copy and sends them out to the school. Most schools will not accept your paper copy, it has to come from college board. Call College Board Profile # to get details</p>

<p>Ah, thanks AZmom, I did not realise you sent that hard copy to the CB not the school- haven't had to do that part, so far I am FAFSA only for DD. I may need to know more after 2nd D picks a school!</p>

<p>arizonamom:</p>

<p>Sorry, but your information is incorrect. You do NOT send the hard copy to CB if you are updating your Profile with 2004 tax return figures. You must manually correct your Acknowledgement form and send directly to the colleges which you originally listed. This DOES NOT incurr any extra fee.</p>

<p>This is what the Profile Acknowledgement form states:</p>

<p>"It is not possible to make changes to any information that you provided to the College Board now that it has been submitted. However, if you do need to change any of the information, do so directly with the colleges programs to which you are applying. Aprinted copy of your application can be used to send the corrected information to the institutions. DO NOT send the revised information to the College Board."</p>

<p>The only corrections you can submit to CB, via fax, are for original submission mistakes, and they updated your Profile and update your ORIGINAL college selections, at no charge. An additional charge is only incurred if after correcting your mistakes you wish to send your profile to additional colleges not listed in your original submission.</p>

<p>There is not an additional charge if you already paid. You are right. I added a school so needed to pay for that. Didn't mean to confuse the issue. I would encourage folks to call College Board as I did it the way happygolucky described based on advice given and collegeboard told me it was incorrect. It is confusing as the school I called said the same thing as happygolucky. As it worked out I ended up doing both . I recieved a private e-mail from a fellow CC and was given the new info which collegeboard verified. I faxed my hand corrected hard copy to collegeboard and they changed the info online for me(We can not change it ourselves) I know this stuff is VERY confusing and even some of the people in the offices aren't sure. I did confirm this with the head fin aid officer BUT again verify this with collegeboard. Good luck everyone.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for all the help. </p>

<p>I don't know why it has to be so difficult to get an education. Maybe because you value the things you had to chase more than the things you got for free?</p>

<p>IF you think this is difficult- wait till organic chemistry! :eek:</p>

<p>Ok my parents got their 04 tax returns back today. So I called collegeboard and told them I wanted to fax them the update for the numbers I estimated on my css profile. This is what they told me</p>

<ol>
<li><p>They do not update your estimated tax numbers once the profile has been
submitted. I have to cross out the estimated numbers and write in the
actual ones. I have to make a copy of the corrections and send it directly
to the colleges listed on the profile myself. </p></li>
<li><p>She said they limit electronic corrections to mistakes. If you find a
mistake they do let you fax them your correction and then they will send
the new information to the colleges you have already reported and paid
for and that there is no xtra charge. They only charge the fee if you add
more colleges.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>The lady told me that the reason they do this is because eventually everyone that used estimated numbers will want to update their profiles. That this generates more volume than there system can handle and interferes with their ability to process the new profiles that are submitted.</p>

<p>Maybe it depends on who you talk to, so if you aren't sure you should always call them and ask about your own situation.</p>

<p>er...I'm having a situation having to do with this...</p>

<p>I can't get the entire page to print. When I attempt to print my acknowledgment, it cuts off all of the numbers! And I need to send in my correction ASAP.</p>