FAFSA Question!

<p>If I want to get the FAFSA in as early as possible (early january) and my parents won't get their W2s until the end of January, can I put in estimates instead of the actual figures? </p>

<p>It's something my brother suggested, so I was just wondering if it could actually be done, or if they truly need the exact numbers. Still searching around on fafsa.gov for the answer, hoping I'd get one through CC or that. Thanks guys.</p>

<p>Yes you can estimate. make the estimate as accurate as you can and put ‘will file’ for tax status. Then you must go back and correct the income numbers once your parents file their return and change tax status to ‘filed’.</p>

<p>Asset numbers s/b accurate as of the day you file FAFSA. You are not supposed to go back and change them.</p>

<p>You can do the FAFSA now using your BEST estimates based on end of year pay stubs and current bank statements. You should do it in keeping with the deadline for the schools to which you are applying. If the school has a January deadline…here’s what you do.</p>

<p>File your FAFSA using a “will file” status which means you WILL file your taxes but have not yet done so. Use the BEST possible estimates based on your end of year pay stubs, interest statements etc. Then submit it to the school(s).</p>

<p>Do your taxes as soon as reasonably possible after Feb 1 when you have all of your 2009 documentation. Go back IN to the FAFSA website and amend your FAFSA to reflect the figures from your 2009 completed tax return and resubmit to the college(s). Change your status to “taxes completed”. </p>

<p>You will only amend the items that need to be changed to reflect the accurate numbers on your tax returns from 2009. You do not change the asset section.</p>

<p>Your parents and you will want to complete your 2009 tax return as soon as possible. This is the year you want to get your taxes done as soon as possible. It is NOT the year to wait until April 15th to complete your taxes.</p>

<p>Wow, thanks a bunch! I told my mom that this year she needs to file her taxes as soon as possible. My earliest deadline is Feb 15, so I just wanted to make sure that I’d be able to submit the FAFSA by that deadline whether or not my mom has finished her part or not. </p>

<p>So are schools are generally O.K. with students resubmitting FAFSA’s with amendments? Or is it more complicated than just a simple resubmission?</p>

<p>It’s not complicated at all. Once your taxes are complete, you go back into your FAFSA, make the changes to reflect what is on your tax forms…change the status to “taxes completed” and resubmit.</p>

<p>Alright great. Thanks a lot for all the help!</p>