Beginning with the 2017-18 award year, the IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter will be required anytime a student, parent, or spouse nontax filer is subject to verification of income (I make this distinction because there are certain types of verification that do not include verification of income). This includes any individual who is subject to verification and who did not file taxes, regardless of the amount of income (even zero). For example, if a dependent student is selected for verification and the student and both parents on the FAFSA did not file taxes, then the student and both parents will each need to provide an IRS Verification of Non-filing Letter (that will be three non-filing letters to complete verification).
While some schools may already have required this, now all schools must do so.
Since the Fafsa is using prior prior will the family need a statement of non filing for tax year 2015, 2016 or both?
Even then, won’t it still trigger documentation or information on how you eat everyday; whether it is a budget letter, award letter or 3rd party letters stating that support is being provided?
Just for 2015. Additional documentation requirements are actually dependent on the school. I worked at an urban school with many, many very low income students. We did not put students through the wringer like some schools.
Sure, why not. If there’s savings, hopefully it’s earning at least some interest. As small as it may be, this is income, and can be reported on a 1040EZ, and it will then be completely offset by the standard deduction leaving no tax owed.
I’ve filed with $0 income. Sometimes there are other things like a credit to be taken. It is easier to then send the tax return/transcript than the non-filer’s statement.
I work at a grad-only school, and it is very rare for me to get a FAFSA selected for verification (those selected are usually married but filed single - although I believe FAFSA logic compares the date of marriage, filed initial FAFSA as undergrad & got selected, or listed info/made a mistake that fails the FAFSA logic tests). Many of my students have little to no income, and yes, they support themselves on loans (lots of loans). The only subsidized aid at the grad level is FWS, so it’s not really necessary to make a student jump through hoops for an unsub or Grad PLUS loan (neither of which is dependent on the EFC - they could have an EFC of 999,999,999 and still get those loans) - unless, of course, they do get selected for verification (in which case verification is required). Grad schools with aid (med and law, in particular) will have their own forms and rules, of course.