File On!

It’s officially Filing Season. For many it doesn’t end with the Federal and State Tax Returns.  It ends with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, often simply referred to as the FAFSA. All parents with dependents enrolled in higher education institutions should file a FAFSA each year. Yes, that includes those who think they will not qualify for aid. If you’re curious to know why, we invite you to revisit our Expert Spotlight featuring Tony Sutphin for more details. As with Federal and State Tax Returns, there is a deadline, or rather three, and you still have time to file at FAFSA.ed.gov!

• Federal Deadlines
  
  • Applications must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2017.  Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 23, 2017.
• State Deadlines
  
  • These vary from state to state.
• Higher Education Institution Deadlines
  
  • Check with the college(s) your dependent student is interested in attending.  Some deadlines are as early as February 2016!  This is especially important considering financial aid packages are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis.

If you’re feeling the need to apply now, don’t worry, it typically takes only thirty minutes from start to finish. It takes even less if you’ve already filed your 2016 Federal Tax Return as information can be automatically imported into the Application from the IRS. Before you get started, be sure to have the following information and documents handy:

For a brief overview on how to fill out the FAFSA, watch this three minute video. And as always, please do not hesitate to contact us if you have specific questions about financing for higher education.