<p>I was wondering if anyone can help me out. After completing my FAFSA, my EFC came out to an extremely low double digit number. However, I am selected for verification! I have a couple W2 schedules from working part time and it came out to less than $3000 so my moms accountant told me not to file my taxes. The rest of my money comes from working in a factory for a good friend of mine and he pays me under the table. I've been selected for verification and I need to fill out a supplement and all that information which asks me to include any of my W2 schedules. My moms accountant says that I don't have to since I did not file for taxes they will never know I made money! What should I do? I think I have a moral obligation to report my W2's to the school in which I'm applying for so does anyone have any more information for me or advise? I just want to do the right thing. Thanks in advance</p>
<p>PS: My mom receives SSI for my brother and herself since my father passed away a couple of years ago. Do I need to report that also?</p>
<p>I had filled out a tax form for our D and she did not have to file. I sent copies of the form and Ws with a note on top of tax form "did not need to file." Also sent copies of our stuff. A week later we got a letter back saying that our validation was complete and our fin aid would not be changing.</p>
<p>I have no idea about SSI and how that affects anything. Good Luck</p>
<p>You are supposed to report your income even if you do not file - that is why there is a place to check 'will not file'. </p>
<p>And yes your Moms SS payments do have to be reported. We get SS pension money which is not taxable but has to be reported under other untaxed income on one of the schedules. Not reporting them can raise red flags.</p>
<p>You have to report the W-2 income and the cash under the table income. SSI too. All of it. The penalities for concealing it are severe. You'll sleep better at night if you do the right thing. Don't risk it.</p>
<p>You can do a FAFSA correction to include the missing income. That might be better than sending things to the school that don't match your FAFSA. Your 3K income won't increase your EFC, but that and your other unreported income would (student income under about 3K doesn't increase EFC). And your Mom's SS may or may not increase the EFC, depending on her other income and total income.</p>
<p>Bottom line, it may not make a huge difference in EFC to do it correctly. You can try out various situations using the EFC calculator at FinAid. And as dt said, it's the right and safe thing to do.</p>