<p>I have a question regarding Dartmouth's financial aid procedures:</p>
<p>It requests a "signed copy" of the student's and parents' tax returns. On their website, it asks for 2004 tax returns.</p>
<p>What if my parents don't complete 2004 tax returns until April? Will 2003 tax returns suffice?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>No, </p>
<p>They will need the current 2004 tax returns, and W-2's before determining any type of financial aid. As a parnt I was one of those who did not even look at my stuff until late march/Early april. In addition, your CSS profile information will also require the current years tax information and forms. Dartmouth does verify the information (atr least in our case) before giving out a financial aid award. Your best bet would be to stress to your parents the importance of the financial aid process, and ask them to file early.</p>
<p>While Dartmouth is need blind and will meet 100% of your demonstrated need, remember that they do work with a limited budget. At other schools, financial aid is distributed on a first come first served basis of eligible studnets, and those that turn in stuff late may find themselves at the bottom of the barrel as far as the distribution of funds are concerned.</p>
<p>damn, but there's no way I can have my parents done with the 2004 tax returns until late february, at the earliest. Would it be a problem to send it then? I'll be able to send W-2's for 2004, but my dad (who takes care of taxes in the family) has been on vacation for several months. I've sent the CSS and Fafsa already.</p>
<p>I guess you will send it when you can but keep in mind that a school still meets your demontrated need if they provide you with loans. You are only delaying your own process.</p>
<p>If you are looking togetting scholarship/grant aid, you should really push to take care of it ASAP.</p>
<p>Sybbie:
Thanks for the quick and thorough response.</p>
<p>Like neobez, it is simply not possible for my parents to finish their tax return by February 1st. My father hasn't even received all the information that he needs to complete it and flatly refuses to complete the tax return by Tuesday.</p>
<p>It sounds like my options are (a) don't file for financial aid, (b) file the 2003 tax returns with a note, and (c) wait until March and send the tax returns then.</p>
<p>I will call Dartmouth on Monday to check about the permissibility of B.</p>
<p>I know that this can be a very frustrating process and some employers do not release their W-2, banks sometimes do not give out their mortage statements until Jan.31 then there is a rush to get everything in (i myself was a crazed woman getting this done last year).</p>
<p>Have him please do the FAFSA, as he can do that with estimated numbers using his 2003 taxes as a guide), check off the box that he will file a 2004 tax return. He can always update when he files his fafsa. You will need to have the FAFSA filed pretty much at any school you have applied to so get this out of the way so that you can meet your deadline. If you have not filed for a PIN, you and your parents should go on line do this tonigh and hopefully you will have one back by monday, tuesday. Dartmouth uses the Federal Methodology to determine financial aid, so your father should not try to tie the hands of financial aid which has specific guidelines that they must work with.</p>
<p>He should also do the CSS profile using his best estimate with the hope that he will have his returns done by the time the Colelge board send him the IDOC (Institutional Documentation Service) forms that will ask for your family to provide copies of your filed taxes along with the W-2's.</p>
<p>The net-net is this, with Dartmouth's cost of attendance around $42,000 per year, you really want to know where you stand from a financial aip perspective.</p>
<p>Thanks for your help again, Sybbie.</p>
<p>Good news; I just found the answer on the Dartmouth</a> Financial Aid website; I must have skipped over this before.
[quote]
If 2004 forms are not complete at the time of application, submit 2003 returns. Please remember to submit the 2004 signed returns and W-2 forms as soon as they become available.
[/quote]
We've already completed the FAFSA and PROFILE using 2004 data. I didn't make this clear in my first post. It was just the 2004 tax return that's problematic.</p>
<p>Are the forms to be sent directly to the Dartmouth Financial Aid office? Or are they to be sent to College Board? And what exactly is IDOC?
I just completed my CSS Profile and Fafsa today, sorry if I'm asking too many questions.</p>
<p>The college board will send you an IDOC (Inbstitutional Document Services) form. The College board will have a IDOC ID # for Dartmouth. You fill fillout the IDOC cover sheet with your name, address, SS#, and yoru Prents SS #.Then you fill fill in the ovals for the documents that you are including.</p>
<p>Eveything should be photocopied on 8 1/ x 11 paper </p>
<p>The form will tell you the following:</p>
<p>Send photocopies of signed tax returns, not originals
Copy all forms on 8 1/2 x 11 White paper
Do not Staple or clip forms
Send ONLY one copy of each W-2 (yours, and both parents if applicalbe)
Do Not send copies of STATE retuens
Do NOr send tax worksheets unless required for submission to the IRS
Sign the IDOC FOrm and your tax forms
Have yor parents also sign</p>
<p>Your stuff can not be processed with out the cover sheet from the college board and/or cover letter. You can print out the verification sheet at <a href="http://idoc.collegeboard.com%5B/url%5D">http://idoc.collegeboard.com</a></p>
<p>Keep a copy of everything for your records.</p>
<p>I see. Is it required that I use IDOC? I ask because the financial aid website for Dartmouth made no mention of it, but only says to send the completed tax forms directly to the financial aid office.</p>
<p>YYep, you must use the IDOC, the college board will mail you the forms so don't worry.</p>
<p>I got the IDOC thing yesterday, and it didn't list Dartmouth as one of the schools that will receive the things you send back to the College Board.</p>
<p>Willy,</p>
<p>I have to look at last year's paperwork and get back to you but I know as a returning student, that the paperwork has to go through the IDOC to the college board (It is sitting on my desk as I type0</p>
<p>It says on the brochure "Darmouth: Speaking of Financial Aid, January 2005"</p>
<p>"PLEASE ALSO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS DIRECTLY TO DARTMOUTH</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Signed photocopy of your parents' 2004 Federal tax return, all supporting schedules and W-2 form(s). Please have your parents submit a written statement if they are not required and do not file tax returns.</p></li>
<li><p>Signed photocopy of your 2004 Federal tax return and all supporting schedules. Please send a written statement if you are not required and will not file a tax return."</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I emailed them and it said Idoc was only for continueing students.</p>
<p>Ok,</p>
<p>thanks for the update. I have to send the IDOC to my daughter for signature. See what'll you have to look forward to next year?</p>