Friday, March 1, 2013, 12am – 11:59pm March 1, 2013 is the preferred FAFSA filing deadline for new transfer undergraduate students and all graduate and professional students. The Office of Financial Assistance will continue to review FAFSA applications received after the preferred filing deadline, however, many financial aid resources are limited so financial aid is awarded based on need as well as on a "first come first serve" basis. We understand that most families will not yet have their 2012 tax returns completed in time to be used to file the FAFSA by the preferred filing dates below. The FAFSA allows you to use estimates of income and taxes in order to meet the preferred deadline, but requires you to update the FAFSA to reflect actual figures once the tax forms are complete. A PIN (Personal Identification Number) is required for each person whose information is provided on the FAFSA. If you (and your parents for dependent students) need a PIN or have lost or forgotten ones previously assigned go to www.pin.ed.gov to request a replacement.It is no longer necessary to wait to receive your PIN number via email, you can now create a PIN or receive one instantly. However, be sure to keep your PIN confidential. FAFSA will continue to allow families to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool which allows you to link your FAFSA with your 2012 tax filing information directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). You can still estimate your 2012 tax information to file the FAFSA early. Once you file your 2012 tax returns you can return to your FAFSA and update your tax information by participating in the IRS Data Retrieval process. Also, a reminder to our Florida residents; filing a FAFSA will continue to be a requirement for receiving any State of Florida aid (Bright Futures Scholarships, the FL Resident Access Grant and the FL Student Assistance Grant).