Hi, I have been Married over 12 years and now and going back to school for Nursing. I want to apply for financial aid, but they want my husbands taxes included with mine for income. He makes way more than I do, and he dont want any of his info in with my financial aid. I have been filing Married filing seperatly for as long as I can remember, we dont have the same bank account, we dont share financial anything… can I get financial aid without the IRS digging into my husbands finances, or do I need to just be married and separated? Does this need to be done legally? Or do I just have to be in my own place? not living with him, but still be married? so I can get financial Aid…
If you are married, his income will be considered with yours for FA. If you are separated, with two different addresses, you’ll have to follow the instructions for that on FAFSA and with your school. The IRS doesn’t deal with financial aid, but the FA people will require certain IRS documents that you and probably your husband will have to provide.
Please note that if you file Married Filing Separately, there are some tax credits you will not be eligible to claim (AOTC)
The topic was covered in some detail in another post. You definitely can’t live in the same residence and the separation can’t be temporary, such as out of town for a job. You will have to consider where you want this relationship to go, since the school is probably going to ask for proof.
You are married. You are REQUIRED to include your husband’s income on your financial aid application forms. REQUIRED…no option not to.
If you don’t include your husband’s income…younwould be getting financial aid knowingly using fraudulent information.
This includes being “separated” on,y for,the purpose of getting need based financial,aid.
Your tax filing status doesn’t matter a speck. Neither does the comingling of your funds…or not. Fact is…you are married. Even your tax return says “married”.
The colleges most certainly will want to know about your husband’s income and assets.
It is considered fraud to get need based financial aid using dishonest or incomplete information. It cannresult in loss of your acceptance spot, loss and repayment of any financial aid you may have recievec…and a fine.
Colleges frown on dishonesty.
If you can’t include your husband’s income on the forms, then you need to be prepared tomoay the full cost of attending your college.
Read this carefully. Even IF you live separately…if this is for financial aid gain PNLY…it’s fraud.
You are married. You are doing this scam for financial aid purposes ONLY. Your tax filing status has NOTHING to do,with your financial aid…nothing.
You have been filing MARRIED anyway…your tax return from 2015 will be used for 2017-2018 financial,aid. It will clearly say MARRIED.
You will need to PROVE you are living apart in preparation for a divorce…or you will considered MARRIED. You will need to have very firm documentation of this.
And really…if you have two residences…wouldn’t it be smarter to use that money to pay your college costs?
Including your husband’s income is required if you are married and live together and not legally separated.
He doesn’t have to pay for your school if he doesn’t want to, but in order to see if you qualify for financial aid, you have to file FAFSA truthfully.
Pretending about true marital status (or trying to manipulate it) is one of the top things the colleges know people try. And quickie divorces for the purposes of aid. Lol, “Married, filing Separately” is still married.
Yes, must be done legally. There are consequences for fraud. Right now, OP should be trying to get her hands on a wide range of FA info, how it works, what’s what, from different sources, so she gets the right understanding. Not guessing.
And run the NPCs.
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
Closing thread. Nothing left to say.