<p>So as it turns out, my parents won't have their 2010 tax information (like the 1040 form) until the end of the month. This is bad. Is it possible that I could use the 2009 information instead (even though FAFSA only asks for 2010)? I'm not sure what else to do if I can't.</p>
<p>You should file your FAFSA using the best possible estimates for income and taxes paid. Your filing status will be “will file” on the FAFSA. Then complete your 2010 taxes as soon as you can…go in and amend the FAFSA to reflect the accurate numbers from your 2010 tax returns, and change the status to “taxes completed”…the resubmit your FAFSA.</p>
<p>Many folks send in FAFSA with estimates and a will file status and then update.</p>
<p>HOWEVER do your taxes as soon as you can. This is NOT the year to wait until April 15 to file.</p>
<p>My father plans to visit our accountant as soon as my mother’s W2 form comes in (like I said, at the end of this month), so there’s no reason why I would wait until April 15th to submit the FAFSA. Unfortunately, we can’t get any of this information any faster than until the end of this month (which is why I don’t understand why FAFSA opens Jan. 1st, especially when NOBODY I know files their taxes on that date)</p>
<p>Are you sure that it is a good idea to use estimates and then amend the FAFSA as soon as the actual 1040 comes in? I mean…I won’t actually receive the aid itself until I amend the FAFSA with the correct information…so what’s the point?</p>
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<p>I think it’s a good idea, but that’s my opinion. There are some federally funded awards that have limited funding per college and are awarded on a first come/first serve basis. These include the Perkins loan and federal work study. Schools receive an amount of money and once they have awarded it…it’s gone. Best to get into the queue as early as possible.</p>
<p>Plus it’s really easy to do the FAFSA update…all you do is go in and change the fields that reflect the 2010 tax return, change filing status, and resubmit.</p>
<p>Personally I liked getting the FAFSA (and Profile) done early…the hard part was the INITIAL submission. The updates (particularly for FAFSA which is done online) were easy.</p>
<p>May I ask what was hard about the initial submission?</p>
<p>The initial submission just takes time. You have to have all of the information (even if it’s estimates)…income, taxes paid, bank account balances, any investment income, etc. It just takes time to gather it all and enter it all.</p>
<p>It takes roughly 10 minutes to make the corrections reflective of your 2010 tax returns because those are the ONLY fields you are completing.</p>