<p>My parents refuse to give me their financial information. My dad doesnt even file (hasnt for like 20 years) and my mom refuses because she doesn't want me or anyone else to know how much she actually makes. (hidden investments or something, I have no idea)</p>
<p>So I am stuck with not being able to fill out the FAFSA. Convincing my parents to relent and give me their tax returns is not an option. I have said they were dead on my CSS just to be able to fill it out. </p>
<p>Im afraid if I say the same on the FAFSA they are going to want some kind of proof... IE death certificates or something. </p>
<p>Now then, I am desperate. I have my eye set on a pretty nice school but I dont know what to do or how to continue to get this damn FAFSA filled out. </p>
<p>First, you need to withdraw that CSS immediately if you have sent it. Any attempt to lie on the financial forms is the very quick road to have a college not admit you or withdraw any admission if it dioscovers the truth afterward -- and saying your parents are dead on the form is definitely something they will determine is untrue.</p>
<p>As to the FAFSA, you are right that you are stuck. Are they agreeing to pay for your college? If so and they can financially do so then it is not a major issue. If not, is there anyone you can talk to (relative, reverend, etc.) who could possibly talk to your parents because if you need finanical aid, you have to have the FAFSA.</p>
<p>the CSS has already been submitted. How do I recall it?</p>
<p>No, I have no family. Im an only child and technically I am not lieing. When I asked my dad last year (after graduating) for his income taxes he told me to tell "them" he was dead or that I havent seen him for years. Basically he told me to tell the financial aid people that he had run off and abandonded me. </p>
<p>The only problem is my mom. However, her last name is totally different than mine. So saying they are dead isnt such a bad option provided I dont have to provide death certificates or something. </p>
<p>And no, they will not be helping me in any way to pay for college.</p>
<p>So your dad doesn't pay taxes ( all his work is under the table?), but I am assuming your mom is working at a job that deducts taxes? Is she claiming you as a dependent?
If she does claim you then the govt will have that info. If you were an orphan you would be a ward of the state and that would show on your school records.
If you are not an orphan and your parents refuse to pay anything for your education, you may need to significantly down size your expectations for a while and work out a way to pay for it yourself. Many students do, community colleges are relatively inexpensive and are transferable to 4 year schools. Your diploma would be from the university not the CC.
others on this website have had the same dilemma, it is tough, no doubt about it, but not undoable.</p>
<p>my mom hasnt claimed me as a dependent since 2003. My dad has been retired for many years so he doesnt file anything.</p>
<p>I am ALREADY at some gay community college because I cant afford a REAL school. Im already doing the route you suggested. I want out of this crappy school in the fall and want to go to a real school.</p>
<p>I still dont have enough money however. Thats the whole reason of trying to get the aid.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am ALREADY at some gay community college because I cant afford a REAL school. Im already doing the route you suggested. I want out of this crappy school in the fall and want to go to a real school.
[/quote]
hmm well that changes things certainly.
Perhaps if you work hard you can afford a straight community college.</p>
<p>hahaha. Regardless of the sexual prefrence of my community college I still need help with finding a way to get the FAFSA filled out without parents taxes.</p>
<p>IF you have not lived with either of your parents for a number of years. IF they haven't seen you at all. IF they haven't given you one cent (and I mean one cent) toward any living expenses. IF your parents have not spoken to you. IF your parents haven't contributed toward food, clothing or shelter for you. You MIGHT be able to be declared an emancipated student. This is a legal issue and you must consult an attorney for info about this. Just for the record...your parents are NOT dead. No matter what they have told you, no matter how they are dealing with you, they are alive. Putting anything else on a finaid form is fraud. It will not only jeopardize your finaid possibilities, but also would likely jeopardize your admittance to a "real college". Colleges view fraud in a very negative way. Honestly is really important.</p>
<p>Why don't just threaten to make one phone call to the IRS if they do not fill it out? You have 100% of the power here - you could totally destroy their lives. The government does not look very kindly on tax cheats. If you knew just ONE illegal fact about their taxes, the IRS would do a full, entire audit. I mean, how could your father not file for 20 years? Unless he's been retired for twenty years, but my retired mother (aged 83) has been filing every year anyway because she has to report income from investments, pensions, etc. It is not likely that your father has NO taxable income whatsoever. Simply not filing is illegal unless your entire income falls under an extremely low amount. And what about your mother's "hidden investments?" How hidden? Hidden from whom?</p>
<p>Now, part of me would LIKE to see you do that. It infuriates me that there are so many hard-working people paying their full share of taxes while other people are stealing from us (stealing by not paying their share, so other people have to make it up).</p>
<p>OK - I know a bunch of parents will write, "How could you even THINK of asking a child to do this to the parents who raised him?" Well, as far as i can see, he HAS no parents. Anyway who would do this to a kid ---well, I won't say it. They wouldn't even have to PAY anything - even if the EFC comes back a certain amount, he isn't asking THEM for it! He just needs the damn form!</p>
<p>That's what's convincing me they are hiding illegal income. Give me their names and social security numbers - I would be GLAD to report them.</p>
<p>Your parents are not dead so declaring that makes you a liar and puts you at risk of getting into trouble. If you want to EVER get any kind of financial aid, you had better rescind that application immediately.</p>
<p>Just from postings on an internet board we are not going to get the full extent of your situation. You are currently at some college; they must have a financial aid office. You need to make an appointment with the counselor there to see where you stand in terms of financial aid. Where on earth are you living? CCs generally do not provide dorms, and unless you are living with someone, you must be generating some income. What are you paying each year towards the cost of living and tuition? </p>
<p>Assuming your parents are completely out of the picture and have been for a period of time, you need to get the courts to basically declare you independent unless you are age 23 (I believe that is the age, you can check that) or fall into a number of other categories. In that case, you may then apply on your financial situation, not that of your parents.</p>
<p>In many cases like yours, and unfortunately, I do know of too many cases similar to yours, your parents may well simply make too much money for you to qualify for much financial aid, if any at all. They also may well be filing their taxes and not sharing the info with you. You can order up their back taxes with a tax form (look it up in the library) if you have their ssn and can get your hands on their mail. But it seems to me that separating yourself from them, may be the best move.</p>
<p>Where are you thinking of applying to college and what are your stats in that regard? The financial aid card may not be as strong as you think it may be, depending on your goals.</p>
<p>Im living on my own and I have been for about a year now. Before that it was basically just a room and a bed at my dads place. I tried to aviod being home as much as possiable. </p>
<p>I emailed the CSS people and they said the college I am applying for has already recieved my profile. However, they suggested that to update and correct information I should cross out the old information, and write in the correct stuff and remail them the form. This seems a little rediculas. </p>
<p>As much as I would like to have my parents audited what I really want is just to simply get away from them. The college I want is 3 states away.</p>
<p>I think it is so unfair that the government automatically thinks that parents are going to help pay for stuff. Even if they dont, its such ******** that you cant be free from them until your 23. What the hell is the point of turning 18 and being an adult in the eyes of the government if you are still considered under the wing of your parents. Pretty stupid thinking uncle sam. </p>
<p>Ive talked to my financial aid office here at my CC and they gave me this form to fill out. Basically it says that I have to find 2 adults who will sign and notorize statements saying I have not had contact with my parents for at least 2 years. Well, that is next to impossiable. </p>
<p>I guess the only thing for me to do is suck it up, call the college and tell them I made a mistake filling out the CSS as it was "confusing" or make up some other excuse to have them remove it from their files, and I guess I will have to try and get some student loans because the government refuses to help kids that are really in need.</p>