File your 2011 taxes as early as possible. We recommend filing electronically with the IRS to expedite your process. 

While it is possible to apply for aid without having completed your 2011 returns, your aid application cannot be processed without your finalized tax documentation. Those who complete the federal and institutional aid applications using estimated tax information will be permitted to submit the forms, but individuals will be required to provide updated information once IRS filings are complete. Since no aid award will be processed until official taxes can be obtained, we highly recommend completing this step first.

Once your taxes and Profile applications are complete, you will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. We strongly recommend you do the following when completing the FAFSA application:

• Use the IRS data retrieval feature and make no changes
• Sign the FAFSA using your federal PIN (if you don't have a PIN, you can apply by clicking here)
• Enter Duke's school code: 002920

The first form that you will need to complete is the CSS Profile. In order to complete the application and have it sent to Duke, you will need to enter CSS College Code 5156 when prompted.

Once the Profile is complete, you will receive a letter from the College Board’s Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC) providing instructions on how to submit your W2 forms, tax forms and any other supplemental forms required. You should send signed photocopies of your parents’ and your own 2011 federal tax return with all schedules and W2 forms to the College Board by March 1st. If your parents own a business, then their business tax schedules and tax returns (Schedule K-1, Forms 1120, 1120S, and/or 1065) should be included in your IDOC packet submission.  If your parents did not file a US return, we require copies of the foreign return filed. If your parents did not file ANY tax return, download the Non-Tax Filer Statement from our forms page and include it with your IDOC submission.  Do not send any 2011 tax documentation to the Duke Financial Aid Office.

Please Note: Only one package of documents may be submitted to the IDOC service, so please do not submit your package until all your documents have been compiled.  If we request additional information based on the review of your aid application, please send these additional documents directly to the Duke Financial Aid Office. Do not send additional documents to IDOC after mailing your original package.you may proceed to the next step in the application process. (Note: The College Board will automatically send Duke your Profile information; there is no need to send a copy to the financial aid office).

If you have a noncustodial parent, that parent will need to complete the noncustodial profile online.  You will be automatically notified by the College Board if a Noncustodial Profile will be required based on the information provided in the custodial Profile.  The College Board will send you an email detailing the steps your noncustodial parent will need to complete in order to complete the financial aid process.  Please Note: Unlike custodial parents, noncustodial parents will need to submit their tax documents and any other accompanying documentation directly to the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid.