I really need some help. By tomorrow (or maybe even today), my parents want me to fill out the remainder of the FAFSA and they want to me either:
a) exclude my fathers IRS tax forms completely and just use my mothers
b) use my sisters taxes instead
I’ve tried explaining to them that it is fraud but they’re well aware and still think it’s the ‘best thing to do.’ My parents made over one hundred thousand last year but it’s all gone due to spending, so, they actually can’t pay for my college, but it still doesn’t mean lying is ok.
I spoke to my sister about it and she said to just let them do it and let them take the consequences, but, I have to personally sign all the information on it, so, I’d also be liable, especially since I, you know, actually know about what they want to do.
I don’t know what I can do. I really want to go to college but I am just toying with the idea of not sending the FAFSA form in and then just telling them I was denied - I do need the aid but I can’t get it with my parents and can’t qualify was independent either.
Is there any information on what I could do in this situation? Perhaps moving out?
Thanks a lot. I’m really upset so sorry if this didn’t make a ton of sense.
1st you can’t use your sister information. It has to be your parents information. The school won’t allow it. You won’t get far enough in the process to commit fraud. Are your parents married? If so they should be filing taxes together. So there really isn’t a way to exclude one or the other. If they are not married then you suppose to use your custodial parent information.
Just tell them that it’s VERY likely that the schools will ask for copies of the actual signed tax returns to verify the numbers reported in FAFSA. Obviously, all the names, social security numbers and numbers are expected to match. Some schools require you to use the IRS data retrieval tool, again, to verify numbers. If your parents think that you can report whatever numbers they want and the schools won’t do their due diligence to verify, they’re being very, very naïve.
You can file separately if you’re married, for what’s worth. It’s usually more beneficial to file jointly so it’s more common. *Edit OOPS I misread your comment at first, so I’m actually agreeing with you
dont send in anything that you know to be fraudulent. FAFSA now is tied into IRS reporting so there is no way your parents will get away with this. Sending in totally different income figures is a HUGE red flag and no college will even bother to calculate FA for you until the income amounts jive with what they have reported to the IRS.
do they want the IRS to call an audit on them???
If they’re doing married filing separate. The school will ask for both tax returns. Why do they think they can get away with this? Are you the 1st of the kids to go to college?
The thing is I have told them these things, among other things. I’ve sent them links and a lot of information but they don’t listen to me about it at all. They’re deadset on it and just brush me off every time.
Anyway, both of my kids had their FA chosen for verification. DD is a sophomore and hers was verified both years. And DH went back to college a few years back and his FA was verified every. single. year. So maybe other people can weigh in on whether this is unusual, but if your experience is anything like ours, your FA is likely to be verified and then your parents’ tax forms will have to be sent to the school and the gig will be up. I’m so sorry they’re putting you in this position, but you mustn’t lie on your FA.
@sensation723
Not the first, but my sister didn’t need financial aid, so, they have different ideas about the process. I don’t know why they refuse to listen to information about it - well, I do, it’s just a thing they do. They don’t listen to me about anything and are really stubborn. It’s usually not a huge deal but this is a legal matter, so…
@morseless, so what are they expecting you to do when a school asks to verify the FAFSA numbers? Are they aware that any FA application will stall at that point (or worse) until the numbers can be reconciled? Setting the fraud issue aside, it’s simply not going to work. The bottom line is that the only way to lie is for them to file false tax returns.
I’m tempted to tell you to just submit the correct numbers if you have them, but chances are good that you’ll find yourself in the same predicament every year. Probably better to find a sustainable solution now.
Even if they file separately, they will be required to link both tax returns to the IRS data retrieval tool if they indicate they are married.
If one tax return says “married filing separately” the school will require the OTHER parent tax return to be presented to them as well.
There are holes a plenty in your parent plan. Schools will expect to see BOTH of their tax returns.
If you try to use your sister, you will need to provide evidence that your sister has adopted you, and that your parent parental rights have been terminated.
If your parents indicate they are separated, it is highly likely the will be asked to show documentation of the leases or mortgages for their SEPARATE residences.
It sounds like they’re refusing to listen to you because (in their minds) this is the only solution if you want to go to college.
If what you’ve said is true, they earn over $100k, but can’t pay for college. So…in their minds they’re thinking, “hmmm…Morseless wants to go to college. We want him to go to college. BUT, we have no money and because of our income, Morse won’t get any or enough aid. So, we need him to lie so he can get aid to go to college. If he doesn’t lie, then he won’t be able to go because there won’t be money for him to go.”
If the above scenario is right, then I can see why they won’t budge. They may be wrong, very wrong, but it sounds like they want you to have funds to go to college, and this is the way.
So…if you were to use BOTH parents’ incomes, and your EFC would be high and you wouldn’t get much/any aid…then HOW will you pay for college?
Are you ok with not going to college?
Are you ok with starting at a community college and paying as you go?
@ScreenName48105
They aren’t expecting that - they just don’t think it’ll actually happen to them, I guess, that it will fly under the radar.
I would submit the correct numbers, it was my first idea, but, I can’t get my fathers tax returns for… obvious reasons. “Yhy do you need them? you’re not submitting them.”
@thumper1
Yeah, I know that, but, the thing is that they just don’t care/believe me/think it’ll be fine. I can’t talk to them at all. Also, as for what school has a deadline this late, I’m not going next semester - there isn’t a ‘real deadline’ set by the school, my parents are just saying I MUST do it tomorrow. I’ve asked them why, but, well… from this thread, I think you can all gather that my parents and I don’t have good communication.
Do not give your oarents your FAFSA ID information…do not.
Make sure it’s in a safe place.
Go to,yoir college website financial aid pie…see if they mention tax returns or linking to the IRS Data Retreival Tool. If the do, maybe your parents will understand.
morseless - What is your GPA, and what are your SAT/ACT test scores? What state do you live in? Is there a college/university/community college you can commute to? Get us your stats, and we may be able to come up with affordable options for you.
I feel bad for you. You are stuck between a rock and hard place. You will likely have to do what they want or don’t attend college at all. There is no way this will so they will have to go back and complete the Fafsa correctly anyway.
Something tell me they are doing more then trying to get over on financial aid. See if you can get your hands on your mothers tax return. See if she is filing as married filing separate or head of household.
Go to,your college website financial aid pie...see if they mention tax returns or linking to the IRS Data Retreival Tool. If the do, maybe your parents will understand.
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I don’t think that will help with this situation. The parents want the child to claim that the parents are separated, and only use mom’s income. So since mom files separately, the retrieval tool would only bring up her info.
I would wager that a number of families have done this and it may be hard for schools/gov’t to catch…particularly with the filing separately. It will appear that that the parents are truly separated.
When a student of truly separated parents files FAFSA, he includes his custodial parent. There is no place on their to mention where the other parent is living. Isn’t that correct? And if using a parent (mom) with married filing separately info, the dad’s info will be nowhere to be found.
The colleges won’t finalize financial aid until tax return info is verified with IRS data retrieval tool or by sending in tax returns or tax transcript.
Also next year they might want to file married filing jointly if they are under the income threshold for education credits. They might be able to get an American Opportunity tax credit of up to $2500 for paying qualified education expenses. I don’t think you can get this if filing separately.
