One additional thing to be aware of: Even if you submitted early, schools won't receive your FAFSA information until after the December 1st official processing date. So if you're contacting any schools about your financial aid package, they won't have your data yet even though you've submitted.

Just to close the loop on this thread - the original poster should be absolutely fine if they received a 2025-2026 confirmation email. The Department of Education does sometimes allow early submissions through their system testing phases. Your application is valid, you don't need to resubmit, but processing won't begin until after the official December 1st launch date. Just make sure to check your studentaid.gov account after that date to confirm everything is still showing as properly submitted.

ppl always blame students for these mistakes but the system is literally designed to be confusing af. why wouldn't summer 2024 be covered by the 2024-2025 FAFSA?? that makes logical sense! but nooooo gotta make it complicated

Update us after you speak with your financial aid office! If they say you needed the 2023-2024 FAFSA for summer and their deadline has passed, ask specifically about: 1) Late FAFSA exceptions, 2) Summer-specific scholarships, 3) Payment plans, and 4) Emergency aid funds. Many schools have emergency funds for students who otherwise couldn't afford to continue their education.

u should DEF file those taxes ASAP!!! my cousin got the pell grant and then they did that verification thing 6 months later and she had to pay back ALL THE MONEY because her dad hadn't filed taxes or something. it was a nightmare for her!!

To answer your question about future aid: Yes, issues with verification can affect future aid eligibility. If a student has to return funds due to verification problems, they may be flagged in the system, which can delay or complicate future aid processing. It can also potentially affect Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements if the financial adjustments impact enrollment status. This is why it's crucial to maintain accurate and complete financial documentation for the entire period you're receiving aid.

Something else to consider: some colleges actually look at your FAFSA information as part of their admissions decision process! It's not supposed to affect your chances of admission, but it can indicate your level of interest in the school. Plus, some schools want to make sure they can provide adequate financial aid before accepting students who might not be able to afford to attend.

UPDATE: Thank you all for the advice! I checked my schools' financial aid websites and found that 3 of them have priority deadlines in February. I sat down with my parents this weekend and we submitted my FAFSA. It actually wasn't as complicated as we feared (the IRS data transfer tool made the tax part super easy). I'm so glad I asked here instead of just listening to my mom about waiting! Will update again when I start getting aid packages.

I'm just waiting for the old FAFSA to come back. This new system is ridiculous and I've had it with all these technical issues. My daughter might miss out on thousands in aid because their stupid system can't handle basic tax information. How are families supposed to plan when the most basic functionality doesn't work?!!

Quick update on this issue: The Department of Education just announced they're aware of this IRS Data Retrieval Tool problem and are working on a fix. They're estimating it will be resolved in the next system update on June 14th. However, if you have pressing deadlines, I still recommend manually entering your information rather than waiting.