<p>I filed my FAFSA for the first time yesterday(im the first person in my family to be going to college straight out of high school/filing a FAFSA) and only used my moms information. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to file my step-dads since on my moms 1040 form it had my biological dads last name as well as one of our old addresses(i dont know why). It also didnt list her marital status and had me listed as a dependent under her name.</p>
<p>I'm looking through these threads and starting to get nervous that my admission will get rescinded/i'll get in trouble by the federal government since I only filed my moms form and used the last name and street address that was on her form. </p>
<p>If your mom and stepdad are married then you have to add your step dads information on the FAFSA. Regardless of what name she uses, if she is married to your stepdad, his income counts so you will have to go back and correct the FAFSA. If you do not do so it will be considered fraud. </p>
<p>You are right, these can be grounds for rescinding your admissions, repaying all FA given, and having criminal charges against you and your mom.</p>
<p>Keep in mind if your school accepts the profile or their own FA forms, you will have to report, your mom's, your stepdad's and your non-custodial dad's information (if he has remarried, you will have to add your stepmom's information too).</p>
<p>So your mother filed a 2008 1040 federal tax return using a last name she no longer has and an old address where she no longer lives? Or are you talking about her 1040 from the previous year's taxes (2007)? Which filing status did she use, single, married filing separtely, head of household?</p>
<p>It's just curious, is all. Sybbie is right that if your mom and your step-father are married, the FAFSA expects his financial information too. You might ask your mom why she's filing under the old name and address, maybe she could tell you something that would clear up the confusion.</p>
<p>I'm also not sure, assuming your mom and step-father are filing separate tax returns, how you would answer the question about Adjusted Gross Income. I mean, you have to include your step-dad's, but would you just add the AGI from your mom's and the AGI from your step-dad's and enter that sum as your answer... I imagine you'd have to do it that way.</p>
<p>Anyway, you can go back now and adjust the figures. There's nothing wrong with doing that. There would be something very wrong with <em>not</em> doing that.</p>
<p>I asked her to use my step dads and was told it'll hurt my chances for getting grants since he makes more than my mom(i think its around 60,000 total for both of them). And I told her I can get in trouble for it. What do I do now?</p>
<p>If the school asks to check the information will they want to speak with my parents? I can't make my parents give me the tax information and i'm afraid i'm going to get in trouble for it.</p>
<p>^^^ if your mother was married at the end of 2008 and filed her taxes using head of household, that is wrong I think. What did your step-dad use?</p>
<p>You don't put your biological dad's info on the fafsa.</p>
<p>when did your mom get married to your step-dad?</p>
<p>I don't think she doesn't qualify to file as head of household, unless they were separated or your step dad didn't live in the house for half the year. </p>
<p>How does your step-dad file? and what is their reason for not filing as married.</p>
<p>"
How does your step-dad file? and what is their reason for not filing as married."</p>
<p>I dont know I havent been able to look at it and I dont know the reason.</p>
<p>The next time my parents go to bed early or they're at work ill try and find his form and make the corrections for the FAFSA so I dont get in trouble.</p>
<p>If I confront them about it now ill get fussed.</p>
<p>I feel bad for you. I am finding <em>as an adult</em> all this FAFSA, IDOC, EFC etc to be very stressful. It must be hard to try and pull it all together on your own with numbers that are confusing at best and without much moral support from your folks.</p>
<p>Don't sneak anything, please. Ask them WHY they are doing this. If it is specifically for you to qualify for more aid, then I have to tell you that they are cheating. If you have to verify anything, things could unravel if there is conflicting data floating around. Also, any money in your step-dad's bank accounts should be included on the fafsa also.</p>
<p>WARNING: You must fill out the FAFSA completely and accurately. The information provided may be verified by your school, your state agency, or Federal Student Aid.</p>
<p>After you submit a FAFSA, you may be asked to provide U.S. income tax returns and/or other information. If you cannot or do not provide these records to your school, you may not receive federal student aid.</p>
<p>If you receive federal student aid based on incorrect or fraudulent information, you will have to pay it back. You may also have to pay fines and fees. If you purposely provide false or misleading information on the FAFSA, you may be fined $20,000, sent to prison, or both.</p>
<p>
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Can anyone link me to something that shows the chances to getting caught, consequences,etc....
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</p>
<p>Please do not ask anyone here to give you information that would in any way support falsifying information on your FAFSA, Profile (or taxes). Please. This is a forum to provide help to folks in HONESTLY completing these applications, not to provide ways that are fraud. As noted above, there are significant penalties to providing false information on the FAFSA which include remission of financial aid AND admittance to the college.</p>
<p>This is NOT a situation where you should be looking at the "odds" of getting caught. This is a situation where you should be figuring out how to provide the ACCURATE information on these forms.</p>
<p>Please do not put the folks who post on this forum in this situation. BE HONEST. It's the only way to complete these forms.</p>
<p>If your mom is married to your stepdad, there is NO WAY around reporting the income and assets of BOTH your mom and stepdad.</p>