Home › Education › Education: Ask Jean
The pain is here
How can I apply for financial aid if I haven't filed my taxes yet?
Question: I know I'm supposed to apply for financial aid as soon after Jan. 1 as I can, but I haven't filed my tax returns yet. What should I do?
Answer: Go ahead and file your applications, using estimates. Then, when you’ve filed your return, go back and put in the correct numbers.
Colleges understand that most people haven't filed taxes by the time they need to send in their financial aid forms. But schools need time to review the applications, so they can send financial aid packages along with acceptance letters in the spring.
Most colleges require the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which you can fill out online. Those forms are available at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Many private colleges also require the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. That’s available at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com.
Download this story as a podcast!
(Requires free registration.)
Comments on this site are to be used for the discussion and/or debate of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Comments should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We don't allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete comments and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.