<p>Hey, I have a fairly large problem: My parents do not claim me on their tax returns; my grandmother--strangely, a woman I have only seen about 6 times in my entire life--does. I filled out the FAFSA with my parents' information. I really don't know what kind of stuff they're trying to pull; I didn't know my grandmother claimed me. Well, anyway, back to my problem: My school contacted me and they want copies my parents' tax returns. I cannot provide them with this, as my parents do not claim me. So it looks like I won't be able to get financial aid. Does anyone know if I can get loans without FAFSA? I will be a freshmen in a few months. No one in my family has ever gone to college, most did not even finish high school. I graduated at the top of my class with a 4.010 GPA. I have wanted to go to a university since I was very little, and worked hard to get where I am, to get away from the life others have created. Are there other options to pay for college--my university is a state school--other than FAFSA? What should I do? What do I tell my school? This has been the cause of a lot of tears. I don't know what to do! Thank you for your help.</p>
<p>First of all, provide the forms. You don't have to be claimed as a dependent on the tax forms. Lots of kids are claimed as dependent on tax forms that are not that of their custodial parent.</p>
<p>I'd send them your tax returns, as requested.</p>
<p>Who claims you as a dependent on their tax returns is a somewhat different question than is asked on FAFSA. Even if your grandmother claims you, FAFSA asks for your parents' info. May or may not cause a problem, but I wouldn't assume that you'll not get any aid just because of this situation.</p>
<p>The important thing is this: did the information you entered into FAFSA match the information on your parents' (and your) tax returns?</p>
<p>Send them the info they requested. You are the innocent here. Let the chips fall where they may. Better to be honest. It does not necessarily mean you wont get aid. FAFSA also is used for ANY financial aid, whether grants,outside scholarships, any of the collage based aid, scholarships, etc.</p>
<p>"Dependent" for tax purposes is different than "dependent" for FAFSA purposes. It doesn't matter that your parents don't claim you. (Of course, they may refuse to give you the forms due to concerns about tax fraud, but that's another issue entirely . . .)</p>
<p>IRS rules....
Qualifying Children
To be claimed as a qualifying child, the person must meet four criteria:
Relationship — the person must be your child, step child, adopted child, foster child, brother or sister, or a descendant of one of these (for example, a grandchild or nephew). </p>
<p>Residence — for more than half the year, the person must have the same residence as you do. </p>
<p>Age — the person must be </p>
<p>under age 19 at the end of the year, or
under age 24 and a be a full-time student for at least five months out of the year, or
any age and totally and permanently disabled.
Support — the person did not provide more than half of his or her own support during the year.</p>
<p>Sounds like Grandma has an IRS tax problem if you've only seen her 6 times in your life.</p>
<p>I think your parents and your grandmother need to talk to a tax attorney to figure out where they stand legally with respect to your being claimed by your grandmother. It might even be worth it for them to pay the IRS some fines and back taxes if that will allow you to get federal grants and loans.</p>