Parents Tax Returns?

Paying for College
1

<p>I'm a returning non-traditional student (27 years old). Financial aid applications require my parents tax return. Is this a joke? Shouldn't they look at my tax returns, not my parents? I'm 27, my parents don't support me, nor will they pay for college in any way....</p>

2

<p>You are applying as an independent student and your FAFSA will reflect that. Perhaps the app is telling you this but once you file your Profile and FAFSA it will be self evident that you are independent. Plus......no application that I have ever seen requires the tax returns......it is the Financial Aid that would mention this. Your requirement is to file FAFSA for sure and some schools require the Profile online but other than that it is all about you.</p>

3

<p>You are an independent student. Remember the FA forms (especially for undergrads) are designed for the larger population of students that are dependents of their parents. For you in the parent's section, simply put N/A</p>

4

<p>They will really accept the form with N/A typed wherever they ask about parent info? The college financial department itself also asks for parents tax returns, any idea about this?</p>

5

<p>I guess we will need to look this up for you. All the forms I have read clearly make distinction btwn independent students and dependent ones. Have you phoned the financial aid office at your school for specific intructions? </p>

<p>FAFSA is very clear.
Profile on line is very clear.
My school's site is very clear.</p>

<p>Is this a question on your application? Is the a preliminary form you are filing? I'd gladly help you, however, you are not a parent and will not be submitting parent tax returns......</p>

6

<p>Thanks for your help...I'll contact the school.</p>

7

<p>That is your best bet......if the form you are using is for dependent, you will need another form. Perhaps on the Financial Aid site.......... One thing is certain they will need documentation from you and since this might affect your financial aid award I would not guess..........i would call them and make certain of what they want and when and how. Good Luck</p>

8

<p>Year may be different but information has not changed</p>

<p><a href="http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2004_2005/english/general-dependency.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_guide/2004_2005/english/general-dependency.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Dependency Status</p>

<p>When you apply for federal student aid, your answers to the questions in Step 3 of the FAFSA (or in Step 2 of the online FAFSA, FAFSA on the Web) will determine whether you’re considered dependent on your parents or independent. If you’re considered dependent, you must report on the FAFSA your parents’ income and assets as well as your own. If you’re independent, you’ll report only your own income and assets (and those of your spouse, if you’re married). Not living with your parents or not being claimed by them on their tax form does not determine your dependency status.</p>

<p>For the 2004-2005 academic year, you’re an independent student if at least one of the following applies to you:</p>

<p>You were born before January 1, 1981.</p>

<p>You’re married as of the day you apply (or separated but not divorced).</p>

<p>You are or will be enrolled in a master’s or doctorate program (beyond a bachelor’s degree) at the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year.</p>

<p>You have children who receive more than half their support from you.</p>

<p>You have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half their support from you and will continue to receive more than half their support from you through June 30, 2005.</p>

<p>Both your parents are deceased, or you are or were (until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court.</p>

<p>You’re a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. (A “veteran” includes students who attended a U.S. service academy and who were released under a condition other than dishonorable. For more detail on who is considered a veteran, see the explanatory notes on the FAFSA.)
In unusual cases, an aid administrator can determine that a student who doesn’t meet the above criteria should still be treated as an independent student. The financial aid administrator can change your dependency status from dependent to independent based on adequate documentation of your special circumstances that you must provide. But, the aid administrator won’t automatically do this. The decision is based on the aid administrator’s judgment and is final—you can’t appeal that decision to us</p>