FAFSA question: "will file" vs. "have filed"

swimcatsmom
Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:56:31 +0000

I had always heard the file estimates and you will get a tentative financial aid offer BUT - this year we filed with ‘will file’ and were *d for verification. The school said they would not even look at our financial aid until we provided the items needed for verification (a Quality Assurance Verification form and completed signed tax returns for both student and parent and W2s for parents and students). We quickly finished out taxes and mailed the required documents wednesday - today the site shows everything recieved complete. Whew!

We did change the tax status to ‘completed’ - we are mailing them (we’re doing freefile - one company does not let us complete our daughters because she had capital gains - another got her standard deduction wrong!! I am glad we knew what it should be or she would have been overtaxed - beware the freefiles). I am not going to enter all the info a 3rd time so snail mail.

SO that was a long answer - short one - if your taxes are complete it is OK to say complete even if not mailed.