We were married in 2016 and filed tax returns jointly. In March of 2018 (this year) my husband left us and moved to Brazil We have a divorce decree completed, an agreement done by attorneys and signed by all parties, but it has not been signed by court judge as of today…we expect it to go through the final filing legal process soon. Our 2016 tax return was complicated. Our adjusted gross income was 215,428- only 11, 442 was my earnings as a stay at home mom/part time worker. 63,600 of that adjusted gross income was a distribution from his IRA account. Do I divide that 50/50 and add it to my income? Then, for taxes…we had an itemized deduction of 27,941. Would I simply divide that too? Would I adjust my exemptions to be for 2 people instead of three? I really don’t know how to figure out the tax we each paid if we are separating this return. Would I be the only one to file the FAFSA since I am the custodial parent? Or would we both have to file one anyway, so maybe I should just file the FAFSA as if we are still together since the divorce isn’t finalized? I really need help…is there someone I can hire to do this for me?
Are you talking about completing a 2019-2020 FAFSA? If so, that will use 2017 tax return information.
Or are you talking about doing a 2018-2019 FAFSA…for the academic year that is happening…now?
Regardless…if you are separated with divorce pending, you file as separated/divorced on the FAFSA.
But first…please clarify which FAFSA you are talking about.
If it’s the 2019-2020 (for students starting college in 2019 fall) then the 2017 tax inf will be used. What does that tax return look like?
You will need YOUR w2 form. That will clearly list YOUR income…and taxes withheld. You will need to figure out taxes paid for YOUR portion of the income only.
If your kiddo lives with you greater than 50% of the year as of the date of the FAFSA filing, then you are the custodial parent and no other parent would be put on the FAFSA.