I'm so grateful to have found this discussion! My family is dealing with the exact same IRS processing nightmare - we filed our taxes in January and it's now been over 4 months of "still processing" with zero communication from the IRS. I was absolutely panicking that this would somehow disqualify us from financial aid or cause major delays for my son's college applications. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. The consistent message seems to be: don't let IRS delays derail your FAFSA timeline. I'm particularly grateful for the professional insight from those who work in financial aid offices - knowing that this situation is routine and that there are established procedures to handle it makes me feel so much better. I'm going to follow the advice here and attempt the IRS Data Retrieval Tool tomorrow, with manual entry as backup if needed. It's clear that meeting financial aid deadlines is far more important than waiting for the IRS to get their act together. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and helping anxious parents like me navigate this stressful process!

Welcome to everyone who's dealing with this frustrating IRS processing delay! I'm new to this community but unfortunately not new to this exact problem. We filed our 2023 taxes in late February and have been stuck in processing limbo ever since - no letters, no explanations, just the dreaded "still processing" message every time we check. Reading through this entire discussion has been incredibly eye-opening and honestly such a relief! I had no idea how common this issue was or that the FAFSA system was designed to handle these delays. I was genuinely worried that somehow our delayed return would make us look unreliable to financial aid offices or cause problems with my daughter's aid package. The professional insights from those working in financial aid offices have been particularly valuable - knowing that they see this situation constantly and have established procedures to deal with it takes so much pressure off. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here: try the IRS Data Retrieval Tool first thing Monday morning, then manual entry if needed, and focus on meeting our financial aid deadlines rather than waiting for the IRS to catch up. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and advice. It's amazing how much stress this community has helped alleviate for families like ours who are navigating this process for the first time!

Hi everyone! As a complete newcomer to this community and the FAFSA world, I can't thank you all enough for this incredibly informative discussion! My son just started his freshman year this fall, and I've been absolutely stressed thinking I needed to submit another FAFSA for spring semester. I was literally about to panic-fill out the entire application again until I found this thread! Reading through everyone's responses has been such a huge relief - knowing that the fall FAFSA covers the entire academic year takes such a weight off my shoulders. The December timing strategy for next year's application is pure gold - I had no idea that submitting early could impact institutional aid availability. I'm setting that calendar reminder right now! It's amazing to find such a supportive community where experienced parents are willing to share practical advice with those of us who are completely lost in this process. Thank you for being so welcoming and helpful!

Hi everyone! As a complete newcomer to this community and the FAFSA process, I just wanted to say how incredibly relieved I am to have found this discussion! My daughter is also a freshman this year, and I've been absolutely panicking thinking I needed to fill out another FAFSA for spring semester. I was literally about to start the whole application process over again until I stumbled across this thread! Reading through all of your responses has been such a lifesaver - knowing that one FAFSA covers the entire academic year takes such a huge burden off my shoulders. The December timing strategy for next year's application is invaluable information that I never would have learned anywhere else. I'm setting that calendar reminder right now! It's amazing to find such a supportive community where experienced parents share practical, real-world advice with those of us who are completely lost in this financial aid maze. Thank you all for being so welcoming and helpful to newcomers - I'm definitely sticking around to learn more!

Hey Sofia! I'm a senior who just went through this whole process last year with a very similar situation. My parents owed around $16k in back taxes and I was absolutely terrified I wouldn't get any aid. I'm happy to report that I got a fantastic financial aid package - full Pell Grant, state grants, and work-study that covered almost everything! The back taxes didn't hurt me at all. Here's what I learned: 1. The FAFSA cares about your family's income, not their debts (including tax debt) 2. Being on a payment plan with the IRS actually shows responsibility 3. You'll probably have to enter tax info manually instead of using the automatic tool 4. Verification is super common but not scary - just extra paperwork The biggest game-changer for us was being completely honest and proactive with our school's financial aid office. When we submitted our initial documents, we included a brief letter explaining the IRS payment plan situation and attached a copy of the agreement. The counselor told us later this made everything so much smoother. Don't let your parents' embarrassment about their tax situation hold you back from your education. You didn't create this debt and you absolutely deserve financial aid to pursue your dreams. The system is literally designed to help students from families facing financial challenges! You've got this! 💪✨

Hey Sofia! I'm a college freshman who literally just went through this exact situation last fall! My parents owed about $13k in back taxes and I was convinced I'd have to forget about college. Spoiler alert: I'm writing this from my dorm room with a full financial aid package! The advice you're getting here is spot on - back taxes don't disqualify you from aid. What really helped us was getting organized early. We made copies of everything: tax returns, the IRS payment agreement, bank statements, W-2s, the works. When we couldn't use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (super common with back taxes), we just entered everything manually. Got selected for verification but it was honestly no big deal. The financial aid office walked us through exactly what they needed and were so patient with all our questions. My aid counselor even said families on IRS payment plans are usually more organized with their paperwork than most! One thing that surprised me - my Expected Family Contribution came out lower than I thought because the system only looks at income/assets, not debt. Ended up qualifying for more aid than I originally calculated. Don't let your parents' stress about this derail your college plans. You've got a whole community here rooting for you! 🎓💙

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm currently going through the exact same situation with my son at SUNY Albany - his TAP and SUNY Tuition Credit have been stuck on "offered" status for weeks and I was starting to panic that we had missed some crucial step. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been such a huge relief, especially learning that this is completely normal and that state aid automatically accepts once enrollment is verified. I had no clue about any of this! The residency verification issue that several people mentioned is something I never would have thought to check - definitely calling the registrar's office tomorrow to make sure we're all set on that front. I'm also implementing the documentation spreadsheet idea immediately. I've already made several calls to various offices and realized I have no record of who I spoke with or what they told me. And the 8:30am calling tip is going straight into my notes - I've been trying at random times and getting nowhere. It's honestly shocking how many "hidden" requirements and processes there are in this system that aren't clearly explained anywhere. Thank you all for sharing your real-world experiences and practical advice - this kind of knowledge sharing is exactly what families like mine need to navigate this maze successfully!

This thread is such a treasure trove of information! As someone who works with college-bound students, I see families struggle with this exact issue every year. The NY state aid system is particularly confusing because it operates so differently from federal aid - most people expect everything to work the same way. A few additional tips I'd add based on what I've seen: 1. If your student changes their course load after state aid is awarded, it can affect disbursement. TAP requires full-time enrollment (12+ credits), so dropping below that threshold will cause issues. 2. For families with multiple students in college, make sure each student's TAP application correctly reflects the number of family members attending college simultaneously - this can significantly impact award amounts. 3. Some SUNY schools have slightly different timelines for when state aid gets applied to accounts, but most follow the 2-3 weeks after semester start rule mentioned earlier. The residency verification catches so many families off guard because it's handled by registrar offices rather than financial aid, so the two offices don't always communicate about pending holds. Definitely worth checking on proactively! It's wonderful to see families helping each other navigate this maze - the real-world experiences shared here are worth more than any official guidebook!

What an incredible thread to read through! As someone who went through this exact same confusion with my oldest daughter three years ago, I want to echo what everyone has said - you're doing an amazing job advocating for your daughter, and an SAI of 4620 is actually quite good for receiving meaningful financial aid. One thing I learned that I wish someone had told me earlier: when you get that award letter, pay close attention to whether any of the aid is renewable each year or if it's just for the first year. Some merit scholarships are only for freshman year, which can create a nasty surprise later. Always ask about renewal requirements and whether aid packages typically stay consistent across all four years. Also, don't forget that your daughter can also look for outside scholarships even after starting college. Many local organizations, her high school counseling office, and even the university itself often have ongoing scholarship opportunities that can help reduce costs each semester. You've gotten such great advice here about appeals, comparing true costs, and keeping organized records. Your daughter is so lucky to have a parent who's willing to ask questions and fight for her education. Best of luck when that award letter arrives!

This has been such an inspiring thread to follow! As a financial aid counselor at a community college, I wanted to add one more perspective that might be helpful. You mentioned your daughter was accepted to both State University and Community College as a backup - don't underestimate the community college option if finances become tight. Many students don't realize that completing general education requirements at a community college and then transferring can cut total degree costs by 40-50% while still earning the same bachelor's degree from State University. Most community colleges have guaranteed transfer agreements that ensure credits will transfer seamlessly. With her SAI of 4620, she'd likely qualify for significant aid at the community college level too, potentially making those first two years very affordable or even free depending on your state's programs. It's not giving up on her dreams - it's a strategic financial decision that many successful students make. That said, the four-year experience has its own value, and it sounds like you're on track to get good aid information from State University soon. Just wanted you to know that the community college pathway is a completely valid and often very smart choice, not a "lesser" option. Whatever you decide, you're clearly doing everything right as her advocate!