<p>So I'm a junior getting ready to be a senior and I've come to the realization that my parents have never filed their income taxes in like the last 15 years. In fact, my father gets letters from the IRS saying he owes $150,000-$200,000 or more. I honestly didn't even think it was possible to evade the government for that long.</p>
<p>My question here is: how am I supposed to go to college? Aren't tax returns required for FAFSA and subsequent grants/need based scholarships? There's no way they can simply pay our of pocket for school.</p>
<p>If you are a junior now, your parents will have to file a 2013 tax return if you want to receive any aid from the federal government or college.</p>
<p>To be honest, that is the least of their concerns, in my opinion.</p>
<p>Re: how can you go to college? Get a job and go to your local community college part time. Pay as you go.</p>
<p>As thumper noted, all your parents need to do is file their tax return for 2013 in order for you to be able to file FAFSA. The prior years don’t matter for financial aid purposes.</p>
<p>But, they will also have to continue to file order for you to maintain eligibility for aid while you’re in college. Once you graduate, they can go back to their old scofflaw ways.</p>
<p>Your father has put your family in a bad place.
Hopefully, he hasn’t used the kids’ SS# to open credit cards in your and your siblings’ names.
If he has, then he has ruined all of your financial futures-say goodbye to owning a home or getting any loans when you become adults.
Ask him, since he is being truthful about back taxes.</p>
<p>If your parents are illegally avoiding returns, they might illegally file returns with numbers to benefit you. This sounds weird and harsh and illegal. But you should ask them if that is the plan to help you.</p>