Need Access - Submit Parents tax return to schools?

[pv515]

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So there's a box on NeedAccess where you put the date that your parent(s) will submit a copy of their past year's income tax return to the schools you list on your needaccess.

This box is optional, but would it be better for me to do this? I figured knowing the assets and income of my parents would be enough. Anyone know if this puts me in better position for financial aid? My parents are understandably hesitant to give the entirety of their sensitive and private information to strangers in paper form...

 

[NickNaylor]

Get in touch with schools. If you're including the info with FAFSA it seems a little redundant to include it again with NeedAccess, but you never know.

 

[justkeepswiming]

I've submitted it for two schools so far, and both have requested that I send copies of my parents' and my tax returns in addition to the fafsa and need access. It's redundant, but I'm guessing they just want the backup documentation.

Since I don't have my parents' returns yet, though, I just left that particular box blank where it asks for the date you'll be sending them. I went ahead and sent each school my own return via email with a note that my parents' would be coming in a few weeks. In terms of the privacy issue, I figure that's basically gone anyway since they ask for so much detail on fafsa/need access. I'm sending PDF copies as opposed to paper copies, though, which probably reduces the chance of random loose paper copies of my info floating around.