FAFSA forms available for 2007-08 school year

Applicants should use the free government Web site, a financial aid officer advised.
AKRON -- Beginning Monday, students and parents can begin submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form (FAFSA) seeking financial help for the 2007-08 college academic year.
FAFSA forms must be filled out annually and are automatically sent to schools that applicants name on their form.
Tips and facts
Doug McNutt, director of student financial aid at the University of Akron, offers some tips and facts that can help with the process:
Most colleges and universities require students to fill out the FAFSA form if they are applying for any financial aid, whether from federal, state or institutional sources.
FAFSA forms are available through college and university financial aid offices and high school counseling offices.
For faster processing time and fewer errors, complete the online version of the form available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Check with the institution to which you are applying for its priority FAFSA completion date. The University of Akron's priority application date is March 1.
It is easier to fill out the FAFSA form if you have completed your tax returns for the previous year, otherwise you may use income and asset estimates. If you have estimated, once your tax form is completed any changes needed to be made to the original FAFSA information can be done at the same Web site at which you completed the electronic application process or by using the paper correction process.
Families do not need to qualify for federal student aid to receive some type of assistance from the federal government. Congress recently reinstated the tuition tax break that allows college students and parents to deduct higher education expenses from their taxable income. Deductions include up to 4,000 for individuals with income of 65,000 or less and married couples with 130,000 or less, and a deduction of 2,000 or less for individuals earning 65,000 to 80,000 or married couples with incomes of 130,000 to 160,000 a year.
Correct Web site
McNutt cautions FAFSA applicants to be sure to use the correct Web site when applying for aid.
"The first "F" in FAFSA stands for free," explains McNutt. There are other Web sites available with slightly different addresses that charge you a fee for completion of the FAFSA form. Be sure to use the official Web site.
"Also, most colleges and universities, including the University of Akron, are glad to help you, at no charge, if you have specific questions about completing the FAFSA form," he said.