<p>My parents and I haven't gotten our 2008 W-2 forms and we don't know if there is a way to get them earlier. Also, I know my parents usually file taxes mid-February but many schools and scholarships are asking for me to file the FAFSA by at least, the first of February. Is there a way to make the process quicker? Can we use last year's taxes?
Thanks!</p>
<p>Use last year's, fill out the FASFA, then ammend if there are changes once the 2008 tax stuff comes in. That's what we are doing (& most people).</p>
<p>You can get a better idea from your last paystubs of 2008 and check your banking info online.</p>
<p>I can tell NOW how much my interest was and what my pay was. My W-2 will have the same data.</p>
<p>One thing you won't know is taxes paid. That is NOT the same as taxes withheld from pay. That would be something to 'borrow' from 2007</p>
<p>Better yet. Start your taxes online with your Paystubs and other information. I can find everything out online. Mortgage interest, realestate taxes, interest/dividends.</p>
<p>My son is a Questbridge admit and Pomona is requiring that we submit our 08 tax forms along with the FAFSA on 2/1. For ED and RD, they require the FAFSA on 2/1 and the 08 tax forms on 3/1. I would much prefer to use 07 tax information for FAFSA and prepare 08 taxes in a sane fashion, and go back and update the FAFSA later. I'm already predicting that I'm bound to miss something (we have a small business) and will without a doubt be amending the 08 tax return.</p>
<p>I feel terrible for the QB kids because most of them are first generation immigrants or have absentee parents, etc., and have handled all the paperwork up to now on their own. I can't even imagine having this predicament at their age on top of AP courseload.</p>
<p>Once you do get the W2s, if your parents aren't able to file immediately, it isn't easy, but is possible, to do your FAFSA by doing a rough job of the taxes with a 1040 worksheet. Of course, it helps if you have someone who knows a bit about taxes in your family (my older brother told me what lines needed to be filled in), but the numbers you get should be relatively accurate, and then you can update as soon as you get the actual tax returns. In my case, I ended up not having to update because my calculated numbers were accurate. </p>
<p>This is maybe not the easiest solution, but this is what I had to do last year when I was in your same boat. One simpler solution that I have seen recommended, if your parents' income is pretty much the same as last year, is to just use the previous year's taxes and then update when you get the current one. That would've been much less of a hassle, but unfortunately my mother's income changed pretty dramatically from the previous year so I wasn't able to take this approach.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advice! :)</p>
<p>This is probably somewhere on this site, but I just joined and everything, including FASA is new.<br>
I appreciate any help. I just submitted my FASA, by estimating numbers, now I'm terrified that an EFC of 464 is a percentage ranking? Can I amend the FASA latter w/the real numbers (or if I filled the form out wrong) and is the EFC a percentile that will be due? I can't figure out what my part to pay might be. </p>
<p>Thanks.<br>
everyone seems very friendly on this site:-)</p>
<p>Nibs - Once your parent's have completed their 2008 taxes you will have to go back and make corrections to your FASFA.</p>
<p>EFC stands for expected family contribution. Based on the numbers that you provided, $464 is the amount that the FASFA has determined to be your EFC. </p>
<p>With this EFC, you should qualify for a Pell Grant of approximately 4K, subsidized loans, Work study, possibly the Supplementary Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG - amt varies by school, and given to only the neediest students), and possibly a state grant (depending on what state you are from and what programs they have) Then, depending on what schools you have applied to, and how well they meet your "need", you may get additional institutional grants.</p>
<p>You may also qualify for the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). Student</a> Aid on the Web</p>
<p>OMG Thanks so much!! I get so scared that I can't make it.</p>
<p>HOpe everyone has a great weekend.</p>