<p>For most colleges/universities, what forms are required to be submitted for FinAid other than CSS & FAFSA? Do we normally have to submit 2004 tax forms?</p>
<p>Not for most colleges, probably just the most selective ones. Neither of my sons had to submit past tax forms. One college (Stanford) wanted tax forms for the year in which my sons applied, but not for the previous year. (This was required AFTER we submitted taxes for that year.) However, neither of the applied to any Ivies, so I don't know about them.</p>
<p>you will have to file for tax year 2005 which is why it is important that your parents file asap because the college will request a copy of them</p>
<p>we always file as soon as we get the w-2's lol but i'm at a lost as to whether we have to send in 2004 returns because for some colleges their websites and app booklets do not mention anything about sending in the 2004 forms, but others (CCers) indicate that the fin aid office told them the forms should be sent (which, to add to the confusion, is the opposite of what i was told)</p>
<p>Also, some colleges don't require the tax forms/fafsa until the student decides to attend, but should the applicant send in the forms earlier (jan-feb) as to receive a more accurate finaid package, or will the college even use the tax forms for that purpose when mailing out decisions info?</p>
<p>Some schools will ask abut your finances over 2 tax years (some schools will do this if your child has applied ED). They will look at the 2004 tax information to give you a preliminary package and then will amend the package based on the information from the 2005 tax year.</p>
<p>On the college's financial aid site, it will usually tell you what date you need to have different pieces of information submitted by. This also includes your tax information. Your best bet is to read the applying for financial aid section of the schools that your student is applying to.</p>
<p>At many schools your appliction for financial aid is not complete until the tax information has been submitted and you may not get a package until all items have been submitted. </p>
<p>Remember also that only a handful of schools are need blind. those that are need aware or need sensitive,may want to see a full financial picture especially if they are on the fence about your student and one who is similiarly qualified and they are nearing the end of the financial aid budget. Also schools have a limited finanical aid budget and they will give the $ until the money runs out. If your application is processed last you could end up with a greater amount of loan funds because all of the grant/scholarship funds have been exhausted.</p>
<p>Please, please have your information submitted before the school's deadline (it is always better to be early than to be late) and make sure you have submitted everything the college requests.</p>
<p>all the best</p>
<p>thanks sybbie, I am sending out 2004 forms to all the colleges that have a deadline around jan-feb, and also sending the 2005 forms when they are done, BUT if a college does not request for any tax forms until the student has decided to attend, do you think it would be helpful to send the forms anway ahead of time so the student can get a more accurate finaid package when decisions come around?</p>
<p>For the 20006-2007 school year especially for RD, many schools will not take your 2004 information. Your best bet would be to fill out your FAFSA using your last paystubs for 2005 and estimating. Make this your new years resolution as you can do this on Jan.1, 2006</p>
<p>If you have not already done so, file and get the electronic pin numbers for you and your child, so that you can sign the fafsa electronically (you cna do this now). This way if you need to make changes, or you are applying to more than 6 schools you can do them on line and they are processed within 2 to 3 days.</p>
<p>Check the box will file, because you can always go back to amend. You will need to file your 2005 taxes ASAP, especially if your child is a freshman because not having your paperwork in by the school's deadline will knock you out of the financial aid box.</p>