Start Your Season

updated August 2026

Bookmark **https://auth.clarityapp.com/en/signup/ so that you have easy access Clarity.

Review Annual Settings

• [ ] Deadlines :square-video: Deadlines & Reminder Tutorial Video
  • Enter up to 5 customizable Display Deadlines
  • Set a Reminder Date. This is the anchor date by which Clarity will send email reminders to any In Progress applications to your platform. The cadence of these reminders is 1 month, 2 weeks, 1 week, and 1 day prior to the date specified as the Reminder Date. Without this date, In Progress applications will not receive automatic reminders about the approaching deadline(s).
  • Turn off the Access Code so families can more easily select your school.
• [ ] Discount Categories
  • Update your budget entries (as desired). If you use Clarity Contracts and Billing, be sure each discount category has a billing code associated with it.
• [ ] Methodology settings - Each year your methodology settings copy forward with rollover to the new year. If you aren’t sure about these settings, please contact your CSM!
  • Allowances - any schools using the default allowance numbers will see allowances automatically increase to align with the new amounts shown below. If you did not use the default allowances in the prior year, you may want to do your own adjustment for inflation (3-5%).
    • Housing - $32,800
    • Food/Clothing - $15,800
    • Transportation - $12,500
    • Healthcare Insurance Premiums - $6,400
  • Other settings that schools periodically update: Imputed income for a Non-working Second Guardian, Pre-tax Retirement Contribution protections, Home Equity protections.

Review School Settings (gear wheel in top right corner)

• [ ] Documents List

  • Remember, you will not see the 2025 1040s and W2s in your Documents list. They are automatically included as part of the common application and will be requested from the IRS (as applicable).

  • If you request current year tax forms, add the 2026 W2 and 2026 1040 docs to your documents list.

    :square-video: Adding Current Year Tax Docs to Your Document List

• [ ] Rules - Your rules will remain year-over-year. Note we have organized rules into two tabs - “Document Rules” and “Methodology Rules”. Review each tab.

  • Document Rules - If you see any rules highlighted, these need reviewing. Rules to request current year tax documents will need to be updated to include the new documents and dates. Watch the video tutorial: :square-video: Updating Rules for Current Year Tax Documents
  • Methodology Rules - Contact your CSM for support on changing or updating your methodology rules.

• [ ] School Specific Questions - review your questions. Please be careful not to add questions that are already asked in the Clarity app. If you aren't sure, ask your CSM. We want to make sure families have a streamlined experience for your school.

  :loom: New this year - questions can be text or dropdown format. :square-video: Adding a “dropdown” question.

Review your Website and Prepare Communications

Go to the Start Your Season page for the latest website and email template resources for schools, including the dates for family webinars this fall.