I’m a high school senior and I was planning on going to a community college for an associates degree in nursing but a couple of days ago I talked with my guidance counselor and she says I could apply to almost any college and be accepted because of my high GPA and grades. The problem is for FAFSA you need to give parents tax information. My parents are both immigrants but I’m a US Citizen. My mom doesn’t work and my dad hasn’t filed taxes in a couple years. If he was to file them now would he get into any major trouble for not filing them? Also, would he have to pay the taxes as well or would just filing them be enough?
Filing isn’t enough, any balance due must be paid.
Are your parents married and you live with both of them?
Yes they are married and live with both of them.
Your parents might not owe any taxes. It would depend on how much they made during the ‘missing’ years, if your father was an employee or self-employed. You say they are immigrants but not whether they have SSNs and other work papers. They may be eligible to sign and submit a ‘non-filer’ affidavit.
It really depends on their finances.
A couple of years? Of course he owes taxes and late penalties just like everyone else. Failing to file and failing to pay are crimes.
The problem is not really FAFSA. The issue is that you are applying for federal aid based on your parents income and assets while they have been in the country illegally and criminally evading taxes.
No, they don’t have a SSN. Would paying all the accumulated tax fees settle the situation?
Don’t take tax advice or possible criminal advice from people on a website. There are a few threads on this forum about how to file FAFSA when your parents don’t have SSNs. Work with your guidance counselor on getting accepted and then how to pay for it. There may be scholarships available for high stat/low income students in your state.
Paying back taxes is between your parents & the IRS, not between you & the school. The school wants to see the tax return forms only if you are applying for FA.
When applying to a school, you have the option of not filling out a FAFSA form at all. Lots of families don’t fill out the FAFSA-- of course, that would mean not being eligible for any need-based FA. However, if you’ve got great stats, merit-money is another option to consider.
Won’t filing a tax return without a SSN number signal to the feds that your dad is working in the US without a work visa?
As far as I know, virtually all financial aid (except some merit aid) requires the completion of FAFSA.
I suspect you are looking at working your way through college independently.
There are organizations that will assist your parents in getting a tax payer individual ID number and help them with filing their taxes. As @twoinanddone depending on how much they made they may owe minimal or no taxes.
Your real challenge is that you may not receive any actual aid with out a non-filers statement or tax transcript. They would need an individual tax ID number in order to do either of those things.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayer-identification-numbers-tin
What’s your ACT/PSAT/SAT/GPA?
I didn’t know getting federal aid with immigrant parents that haven’t filed taxes recently would be so difficult. ACT was a 26. GPA is 4.3. Don’t remember PSAT score and I haven’t took the SAT yet.
Am I inferring correctly that your father previously filed a tax return?
Yes. I believe the last time he did was 2013.
Then he must have a Tax Identification Number or a fake SSN.
You’ve got 2 options now
- don’t fill out the FAFSA (you don’t get need-based FA; seek merit aid)
- fill out the FAFSA (your father gets his tax filing up to date )
If you turn 24 or get married or join the military, you get a third option:
3) fill out the FAFSA as an independent (no parent info needed)
Why do you feel you should get government aid when your parents don’t file their tax returns?
What’s your ACT/GPA/PSAT/SAT?
OP’s stats are in post#11
OP is a kid who is a citizen and has no control over what his parents do. I think he’s entitled to the benefits other citizens get. There are a lot of people who don’t pay any taxes, may even get EIC or other refunds, and their kids get Pell grants and other FA.
@Madison85 is always precise in statements.
Even people who owe zero taxes are legally obligated to file a tax return form if they meet the income threshold for filing the return. That requirement is irrespective of nationality or visa status.