Filling out the FAFSA if your parents live abroad, are not citizens and do not fill out tax returns.

Paying for College
1

My parents are not US citizens but I am. We don’t live in the US. They pay tax but do not fill out tax returns. When filling out the FAFSA what do I do? If I select the not going to file (tax returns) option and enter their income, this error message appears.

“You reported that the student’s parents will not file an income tax return, but the amount you reported for Parent 1 (Father’s/Mother’s/Stepparent’s) and Parent 2 (Father’s/Mother’s/Stepparent’s) income appears to be over the minimum amount required for filing a tax return. Change the answer to tax return status or income amount for father and mother.”

!URGENT!

2

Try to follow instructions in this FAQ

https://financialaidtoolkit.ed.gov/tk/outreach/target/noncitizens.jsp#resident-foreign-country

3

For others who happen to be reading…this is labeled “urgent”.

These forms have been available for filing since October 1, 2018. That’s four months ago. If this is “urgent” it’s because it was left to the last minute to get done.

Everyone…do your financial aid application forms ASAP after October 1. That way, if you run into a snag like this student thinks they did…you have plenty of time to figure it out.

4

mommdc Thanks for your help but the FAQ doesn’t really answer my question in particular.

5

@kelsmom, Do you know the answer to this financial aid question?

OP, is there a phone number or email on the FAFSA website? If you can contact them directly you should be able to get an answer.

6

Do your parents get a tax receipt or something else official showing the taxes they pay? There must be some way they prove they pay their taxes.

7

@sue22
They get tax receipts but they don’t file tax returns.

8

Never mind. I contacted The Federal Student Aid Information Centre and spoke to someone. Their contact information is at https://studentaidhelp.ed.gov/app/home/site/fafsa .