FAFSA up and Running

<p>The law requires that an employer must provide an employee their W-2s by the end of January. Unfortunately, some employers just can't get it done until the 31st.</p>

<p>scottaa, the thread has talked about estimating information on the FAFSA. What am I allowed to estimate on the FAFSA?</p>

<p>Primarily when you talk about estimating, it affects the income and tax information. Since asset valuation is fairly easy to confirm at any point in time, estimating your assets shouldn't be necessary.</p>

<p>If you are a business owner and have to wait on your accountant for a reasonalble valuation of the business, then you will likely be estimating that as well. Never overestimate a business. I have seen too many business owners overvalue their business up to 10x its reasonable valuation.</p>

<p>Remember too that the FAFSA is a snapshot -- a single look at your assets on the day you file the FAFSA. If you have significant expenses looming, best to file the FAFSA after you've made those purchases so as to spend down your assets a bit. Particularly student assets, which can severely impact your aid offer.</p>

<p>i am ready to send in my fafsa online, but it keeps saying that i am not using the correct browser! i even went out and found an older version of netscape (i'm using a mac) and it still says it won't work! i guess i'll have to go to my office and try it from there....anyone else an apple user that can't use safari, explorer or netscape 6.2.3? </p>

<p>as far as not having w-2's, your last pay stub of the year should give you a pretty good indication of your year-to-date earnings.</p>

<p>you don't have to have W-2's in order to estimate income -- just look at the last paycheck stub. It should show total income for the year. That is what we are doing -- it shouldn't be any different than the W-2's.</p>

<p>edit: nevermind, I cant read</p>

<p>wbow,</p>

<p>I suggest you download IE for mac then. I was disappointed that even Firefox was not supported. Someone please clue in the IT department at the Department of Education!</p>

<p>i have ie, also, and tried that, too. all browsers get me the same error message! i was wondering if any other pc people had this problem--or if it is a mac issue! i'll go to my office later this week and send it in, i guess!</p>

<p>It's most likely an issue with Mac (and Mac IE).. blame it on the government for now being cross-browser compatible</p>

<p>We just completed the FAFSA using the info from last year's as an estimate. We did adjust the bank account, asset information. Our salaries and taxes are not going to change that much so we'll just do that when we amend the whole thing on Feb 1. Once the estimate is done, it is much easier to do the changes. Glad it's done.</p>

<p>My D finished hers yesterday and will send tomorrow several college own applications. Hopefully it is the end of paperwork. She still has couple of overnights and scholarship competition trips but I think by now financial consideration will play 99,9 % in her decision/ reality check in/</p>

<p>One hint I have found helpful over the past few years.......I use exact numbers for non-estimate items and "000" for anything I estimate. when I need to go back and refile, it is easy to spot areas needing attention.</p>