FAFSA question..Update! Post 9

[SondraC]

My step daughter told us weeks ago that her and her mom finalized the fafsa, but last night she said that on it when it asked if the taxes had been filed yet, they checked "will file" not "have filed" . Does that mean it's not completed? We are waiting for the financial offers to come back from the schools, and want to make sure they did it right.

 

[FINFAN]

Will File is not complete. They need to go back in after they file thier taxes and change to status from will file to filed, resign (electronically) and then they will be given a new completion status to print out. No info should change, EFC etc., it is simply verifying tax status...the FAFSA cannot be accepted until taxes are filed. (exception is the student who did not work and will not be filing at all, their section can be "will not file")

 

[MnMomtoboys]

We did ours before we finished the taxes. When we filed my Dh went and changed it to filed or something like that.

If she didn't do it right they will send it back and explain what needs to be done.

 

[SondraC]

Thanks for the information. She is sitting here trying to call her mom now as I type this.

 

[Geoff_M]

the FAFSA cannot be accepted until taxes are filed. (exception is the student who did not work and will not be filing at all, their section can be "will not file")

Are you SURE about that? It's my understanding that you only need to amend your FAFSA if after filing taxes your Adjusted Gross Income was different that was you initially reported on the FAFSA. I do our taxes before the March 1st FAFSA deadline, but since we normally owe a small amount I don't file until near the tax deadline. Since I know our AGI, I use it when I fill out the FAFSA and check "Will File". Since the AGI number doesn't change, I've never gone back in three years and merely changed the filing status in the FAFSA form. I've never had a problem, and our daughter's form has been accepted and processed each time and she has gotten her aid package from her school.

 

[msmayor]

Are you SURE about that? It's my understanding that you only need to amend your FAFSA if after filing taxes your Adjusted Gross Income was different that was you initially reported on the FAFSA. I do our taxes before the March 1st FAFSA deadline, but since we normally owe a small amount I don't file until near the tax deadline. Since I know our AGI, I use it when I fill out the FAFSA and check "Will File". Since the AGI number doesn't change, I've never gone back in three years and merely changed the filing status in the FAFSA form. I've never had a problem, and our daughter's form has been accepted and processed each time and she has gotten her aid package from her school.

You've been lucky then. You really SHOULD go in and change it to indicate that you have filed.

 

[Robinrs]

TaxAct gave me an option to fill my FAFSA after I finished my taxes. It was a breeze!

 

[SondraC]

First timer with all of this, and it makes my head spin!

 

[SondraC]

My step dd just called fafsa to check on this, and they told her that it was received. She then called the schools and they also said they had got it, so in her case it didn't matter, will or have filed.

 

[Geoff_M]

My step dd just called fafsa to check on this, and they told her that it was received. She then called the schools and they also said they had got it, so in her case it didn't matter, will or have filed.

Thanks... that lines up with our experience. After reviewing this, I probably should just go in and flip the "will" to "have", but I can see that as long as the numbers don't change (AGI, dependents, etc.) it's immaterial.