Can I mark taxes as 'filed' on FAFSA if my accountant has them but IRS hasn't updated yet?

No no no - don't mark 'yes' until the IRS has actually processed your return! When FAFSA asks if you've filed taxes, they're specifically asking if the IRS has received and processed them, not just if they're "in progress" with your accountant. If you mark 'yes' and then the FAFSA tries to import your tax information through the data retrieval tool, it won't find anything, and you'll almost certainly get flagged for verification. This creates way more headaches than it solves.

been there!! dont mark filed yet, u can still START ur fafsa tho. just save it and come back when irs updates. they usually process pretty quick these days, like 2-3 weeks for me last time

You absolutely can start your FAFSA now and just save your progress! I recommend completing everything else and just leaving the tax section for later. The new FAFSA for 2025-2026 has built-in save features that are much better than the old system. Fill out your demographic info, school selections, and all the non-tax sections, then when your tax filing is complete with the IRS, you can log back in and finish that part using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This way you're not starting from scratch when your taxes are processed, but you're also not risking verification by incorrectly stating your tax filing status.

dont the schools usually have like separate priority deadlines for FAFSA anyway? maybe check with ur specific schools to see what their actual deadlines are for financial aid consideration so u dont miss anything important

You should know that the FAFSA's definition of "filed" means the IRS has accepted your return, not just that you've completed it or submitted it to an accountant. When you select "yes" to having filed, the FAFSA will attempt to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to automatically import your tax information. If your return isn't in the IRS system yet, this will fail. To check if your return has been processed, you can create an account on the IRS website (irs.gov) and check your tax record there. You'll be able to see when your return has been processed without relying on your accountant to tell you. As others mentioned, you can absolutely start your FAFSA now and save your progress. Just don't submit until the tax situation is accurate.

I had THE WORST time with this exact issue last year. Marked "yes" because my accountant said they were filed, then got stuck in verification hell for 3 months!!! The financial aid office needed like 5 different forms and it delayed my whole package. Don't risk it!!!!!

One more thing - if you're really worried about deadlines, remember that many schools have a separate financial aid appeal process if you miss priority deadlines due to circumstances beyond your control. Tax processing delays can sometimes qualify, especially if you documented that you started the process early. But this varies by school, so check with your specific financial aid offices if it looks like the timing will be tight.

also make sure ur using the right tax year!!! my brother put the wrong year and got denied aid at first cuz of it lol

Just to clarify for everyone - the 2025-2026 FAFSA requires 2023 tax information (not 2024). This is because FAFSA always uses the "prior-prior year" tax data. So make sure you're using the correct tax year when you do complete your application.

This is exactly why the FAFSA process can be so confusing! I'm glad @Keisha Robinson cleared up the tax year confusion - that's probably the most common mistake students make. Just to add one more tip: when you do complete your FAFSA with your 2023 tax info, double-check that all your income figures match exactly what's on your tax return before submitting. Even small discrepancies can trigger verification. And since you're getting started early this year, you're already ahead of the game! Most students don't realize how much easier the process is when you're not rushing against deadlines.

Welcome to the community! I'm new here too and this thread has been incredibly helpful. I was in almost the exact same situation last week - totally stressed about tax filing status and FAFSA deadlines. Like others mentioned, definitely check which tax year you actually need first! I made the same mistake initially thinking I needed my most recent taxes when I actually needed the prior-prior year. Once I figured that out, everything became so much easier. The FAFSA can definitely be overwhelming at first, but this community seems really supportive. Good luck with your application!

As someone who just went through this process, I can't stress enough how important it is to get the tax year right! I was in the same boat earlier this year - panicking about my accountant not filing my 2024 taxes yet, only to discover I actually needed my 2023 taxes which were already processed months ago. The prior-prior year rule is confusing but it's actually designed to make things easier since those tax returns are already complete and processed by the IRS. One tip that saved me time: before you start entering numbers, have your actual tax return pulled up (either downloaded from the IRS website or your paper copy) and enter the information line by line exactly as it appears. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool is great when it works, but sometimes it's faster to just enter everything manually to avoid any potential hiccups. You're doing great by starting early - that's honestly half the battle with financial aid!