<p>Sorry. This is the exact statement:</p>
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<p>I know on FAFSA its just a yes or no question, I did not have to type any amount in on the 09/10 FAFSA. I don’t know about Profile because I did not have to fill out one of those.</p>
<p>applicanot, those are collectively known as “federal means-tested” programs, but they are not all the same. Sounds like you don’t receive TANF, which I think is the program most people think of as “welfare”. So answer yes to the group question, which is a qualifier on FAFSA for simplified needs/auto 0, then no or 0 to any TANF specific questions.</p>
<p>sk8rmom,</p>
<p>Thanks. You’re right. I have heard the term “federal-means tested benefits” hanging around a lot - but I’ve never heard of TANF (not under that umbrella name anyways), and now I understand the difference. So I do receive federal means tested benefits, but I do NOT receive benefits from the TANF program. Sorry for throwing around words without really knowing what they mean. That does clear up the CSS/PROFILE a bit.</p>
<p>Applicanot, your mom is using the standard deduction if it’s $8000. She is not actually itemizing, so she may well qualify to file a 1040A/EZ. Look at the left hand side of mom’s tax form near the $8000. See where it lists the standard deductions? If the number your mom uses is a standard deduction, your mom is not actually itemizing.</p>
<p>Oh okay, that is a standard deduction. Since that’s the only reason she is using the 1040 as opposed to the 1040A, next year she can just as easily file a 1040A with little or no change to her taxes, right?</p>
<p>Exactly. Just to be sure, go to irs.gov & search for “which form do I file?” You’ll find out if your mom is eligible to file a 1040A/EZ that way. If she doesn’t have any of the deductions they list, she is eligible.</p>
<p>Hell-o,
In a previous post, you state “If you qualify for the automatic 0 EFC then student assets and income are not considered at all and will have no affect on the EFC”. I realize that on the fafsa, qualifying for a 0 EFC eliminates me from having to fill out any information about my sons (two students) income, assets. However, what if the college asks me to “verify”? Will they then require me to submit my sons W-2’s or their 1040’s if they file?
I would really appreciate your answer to this!</p>
<p>We have always had to provide both parent and student W2s and tax returns when we have been verified. However we do not get the option of not providing their information even though we qualify for the automatic 0 EFC. I believe it may vary by state (whether you are given the option of not providing the information on FAFSA).</p>
<p>I would assume you will have to provide the data. The forms we get from the school are standardized ‘verification’ forms. I don’t think they have a form for students with 0 EFC, and different forms for students that have EFCs other than 0. They just send the standardized forms out to whoever has been selected for verification.</p>
<p>It should not matter as long as your data is accurate and you qualify for the auto 0.</p>
<p>If I don’t file taxes, am I obligated to report my earnings? I’m referring especially to the CSS/PROFILE.</p>
<p>Exactly what does the term “itemized” mean? I was reading this forum because I need to fill out the FAFSA soon, and I believe my family qualifies for the automatic 0. I do have a few questions if someone knows the (accurate) answers? </p>
<p>No father in life - how does that work when you can’t put their income down?
Who’s income do you have to put for the FAFSA. I know the students and parents, but if it’s a mother, do you have to put current boyfriend, other siblings > 18 years old living in household? </p>
<p>Thank you!</p>
<p>When you file taxes you can either take the standardized deduction on your income taxes or, if you have a lot of qualifying deductions such as mortgage interest, you can choose to itemize and get a higher deduction. Most people will itemize if it means you get a higher deduction as that means less taxes. But to itemize you must file a 1040 which makes you ineligible for the automatic 0 EFC (unless you meet one of the other criteria).</p>
<p>FAFSA only requires the financial information of the custodial parent. So the father would not be required for FAFSA at all. FAFSA income is the parent income and assets and the student’s income and assets. Not the boyfriend, other siblings etc.</p>
<p>Oops, wrong thread.</p>
<p>Okay, thank you swimcatsmom.</p>
<p>About W-2s for students–if you are selected for verification, the standard forms (which indiv. schools sometimes customize, but presumably this is what the federal govt. asks for) ask for W-2s from students even if they did not do taxes. I have run into this before (students lost them and then needed them for verification before finan. aid packages would be put together). You can google for the verification form, Dependent student, and look at the top right hand side, which lists the forms that need to be attached to the 2-page verification form.</p>
<p>Well Stanford requires the IDOC. Ugh. I’m screwed again.</p>