FAFSA: deceased parents tax info

My dad passed away december of 2014 and I’ve been told I can still use his tax info for my FAFSA. My mom made zero income last year so I can’t put her down but it asks me if any of my parents are currently deceased and I put down that my dad is and then it makes me fill out my mom’s tax info. I don’t know what to do. I can’t fill out FAFSA without my dad’s tax information, any help?

There is no rule that the parent you include on FAFSA has to have greater than zero for income.

Well then…you fill in your mom’s information and continue.

So sorry to hear that you lost your dad last month.

Hopefully @kelsmom will chime in. Your mom will be filling out taxes this year using your dad’s info, right. If so, then it would seem like your dad’s info would be used. However since he is now deceased, maybe professional judgement would be used. @kelsmom can say more about that.

Will your mom be getting a job?

Were your parents married at the time of your father’s death?

Hoping Kelsmom sees this.

I’m womdering if the FAFSA has the common sense to know that if the father is no longer alive, he will not be able to contribute to college…and therefore skips his info.

Just wondering…and I could be wrong.

But really it makes sense…

Yes, my parents were married

You will only include your mother’s income. Since your parents will file a joint tax return this year it makes it a little tricky when they ask about tax return info, but you will disregard your father’s info and the actual tax return numbers. If your mother had no income last year it is pretty straightforward in your case though. Zero income, zero tax liability. If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me.

Kelsmom is chiming in: First of all, I am sorry for your loss.

When you complete your FAFSA, you list your mother only and list her status as widowed. You will not be able to do an IRS Data Retrieval for your tax information. You will need to do an planner03 says - disregard the actual taxs numbers. Zero income, zero tax liability. However, she will need to report all assets as her own. If you are selected for verification and/or are asked to do the IRS Data Retrieval, simply contact the school’s financial aid office to explain your situation. Most likely, they will want a copy of your parents’ tax transcript and copies of your dad’s W2s to support the fact that all income was attributed to him.

Wouldn’t half of any shared income if there is any(interest/dividends/capital gains etc.) need to be entered on fafsa? The OP may only be thinking of income from work and not be aware of other kinds of income.

See page AVG-85 for instructions: http://ifap.ed.gov/fsahandbook/attachments/1415AVGCh4.pdf.

I’m so sorry for your loss, catgrl.