<p>I'm wondering if it would be best/logical to file my taxes independently instead of with my mom so I will receive more financial aid for the 2012-2013 academic year (I'll deal with the 2011-2012 year)? I worked full-time at my last university so I could have my tuition paid off but now I made too much money for the 2010 tax year and won't be getting enough financial aid.</p>
<p>I also don't know if filing independently will necessarily help my case since FAFSA still requires me to use my mom's taxes because I don't have a 'special circumstance'. </p>
<p>So, should I file independently or just deal with my misguided decision?</p>
<p>How you file your taxes is irrelevant for financial aid purposes. You will still have to report your Mom’s income and assets on FAFSA.</p>
<p>Being independent for taxes and being independent for FAFSA are two completely different things with different criteria. To not be eligible to be claimed as a dependent on your parent’s taxes, you have to have provided more than 50% of your own support. To be independent for FAFSA you must be able to answer yes to one of the FAFSA dependency questions - be 24 or over, married, a veteran, be working on a professional or graduate degree, have a dependent of your own for whom you provide more than 50% support etc etc. </p>
<p>Being independent for taxes does not make you independent for FAFSA.</p>
<p>The way you file your taxes will have NO impact on your financial aid…as Swimcatsmom noted. HOWEVER the way you file your taxes WILL have an impact on your mom’s return if you file independently. You need to talk to your MOM about this as she may be expecting to declare you as a dependent on HER tax return. So…talk to her.</p>