Time to fill out FAFSA applications is here

By: Jacee Wesolowski

Staff-Writer

As the leaves fall from the trees, finals season approaches and students start to look forward to
the holiday season. However, many often forget an annual, important necessity for college
students: FAFSA applications.

The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form has been available since
Oct. 1.

One issue many students encounter each year when filling out the form is gathering and
remembering necessary information. For convenience and help preparing, students can find a
complete list of the documents needed to apply at studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out.

When providing the federal tax information for oneself and parents (for dependents only), the
FAFSA form provides the IRS Data Retrieval Tool which makes it possible to transfer tax
information from the IRS directly to your application.

Applicants are eligible to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool if the student or parents have filed a
federal tax return with the IRS one to two weeks prior to completing the FAFSA for an
electronic tax return, or six to eight weeks for paper tax returns, if they have a valid social
security number and if they have an FSA ID.

“Students should complete the FAFSA before April 15 each year to be considered for the
maximum amount of financial aid,” the IU South Bend Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
states on their FAFSA information webpage. “Completing the FAFSA late can cause delays in
financial aid processing and, since some awards are limited, may limit the financial aid a student
will receive.”

Additional FAFSA assistance is available on College Goal Sundays, held twice a year at various
locations across Indiana. The next event will be held on Feb. 26 and is open to all high school
and transfer students, as well as students currently enrolled at IU South Bend or other colleges.
Those interested in attending the event with IU South Bend can attend between 2-4 p.m. in the
Education and Arts Building, room 1105.

For help completing a FAFSA form, contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships at 574-
520-4357 or sbfinaid@iusb.edu.