Should I fill up the W-8Ben form?

FAFSA Question regarding what form I need to fill out?

• I am a senior this year 2011-2012, when I go on the FAFSA website there is a form for the 2011-2012 school year. Am I supposed to fill this one out for my first year of college which will start in the fall of 2012. Or is FAFSA going to put out the form for the 2012-2013 school year on Jan 1st and I fill that one out? I have heard from a couple of people that I should fill out the form and turn it in on Jan 1st, that form says if you are attending school between July 2011 to June 2012? Thanks for any help you can offer, I don't want to mess up any chance I have at earning money for college.

• Answer:

  You will be filing out the 2012-2013 FAFSA that will come out on January 1st. They don't put it out any sooner because you have to use your parent's tax information for this past year. They won't have done their taxes by now, so they make the form available prior to most people doing them. If you were to start the FAFSA prior to having this information, you would have to redo it. So you have time. If you are really worried, explain to your parents that you and they have to do their taxes and get this filled out soon. Another way to look at it, you are looking for aid starting in August 2012, most likely. Well, the current form out is for the term through June 2012. You have to wait for the new form so that the time periods will match. Don't worry. I go to a small private college and our financial aid department normally sends out a letter during the first week of January to remind us that the FAFSA is now out and ready to be filled in.