<p>So my dad won't be able to file taxes until April because he won't receive all the information he needs until then. However most of the schools I've applied to want his tax returns by March 1...how should I go about handling this?</p>
<p>It may be possible to send 2006 tax returns as a ballpark figure. You can try calling the FA offices and tell them the situation. For FAFSA and CSS you can estimate based on last year, and then go back and correct them when you have final numbers. Many times the estimated submission counts as making the deadline. But you should double check with the offices at your schools.</p>
<p>You will not receive a finalized financial aid award until ALL of your information has been received by the college(s). If you don't get the information to the school before April, you may not know your financial aid prior to when you need to make a decision about enrollment. I hope you have completed the FAFSA and Profile (if required) using estimates. The year you are going to be a freshman in college is NOT the year to wait until April to file your taxes. Truthfully, it CAN jeopardize your financial aid award at some schools. If there is ANY WAY you can get the family to complete the taxes ASAP so that you can finalize your information, that would be the best plan.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, you can call the school(s) to get some input from them. BUT these deadlines were probably posted on their websites over a year ago...and the schools have deadlines for a reason. BUT call...see what they say.</p>
<p>We have filled out the profile and FAFSA using estimates. We're just waiting on tax returns now. Truth be told, it's not MY fault (trust me I've been hounding my dad over this for MONTHS) or his. Apparently, he has investments that contain information that he needs in order to complete his taxes, and he will not have access to this information until April.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>he has investments that contain information that he needs in order to complete his taxes, and he will not have access to this information until April.>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>I don't know about ALL kinds of investments...but I did think that any investment income (interest or income) was reported via a 1099 which the government requires be mailed by January 31. Perhaps others here are more familiar with investments that do not have to meet this requirement.</p>
<p>Regardless...call the school(s) and ask them. And good luck to you.</p>
<p>If you file the FAFSA now with estimates and correct it later, you should be fine, the only caveat is that if your EFC changes dramatically your aid will too. It is best to estimate on the low side so they have more money budgeted for your package, they can always take the extra back from your package! One bad result of the delay could be that your estimates qualify you for a Pell grant and other need aid and then the real numbers take that away.</p>
<p>One or possibly more of the colleges I applied to have received my FAFSA and the information has been placed onto my financial aid account.</p>
<p>I submitted 3 corrections to my FAFSA over the next two weeks from my initial application date (early January) and will submit my parents actual tax returns as soon as possible. Will the colleges view and process the corrections that I sent? My EFC number changed quite a bit with the corrections.</p>
<p>Since I made corrections, is it required to individually notify my colleges of the changes? Im asking because UCI has a "report my changes for 2008-2009" but there is only space for reporting additional aid (outside scholarships, Cal Grants, veterans benefits, child support, etc.).</p>
<p>I have contacted all the schools I am applying for aid from that are asking for my tax returns, and so far, only one school is being extremely anal about it...so I guess that's good.</p>