My biological parents had gotten a divorce a couple years ago. Following the divorce, I mostly lived with my mother. Entering college, it was my mother whose tax returns we used to apply for FAFSA, as she was the custodial parent. She was single up until August 2017, in which she remarried. So I was covered by grants for the most part, as my mother was low-income. So now I have a question; I just completed my sophomore year of undergrad and I am going to start my junior year in the fall. I was unaware of this but my mother and step-father just informed me that I was supposed to disclose to FAFSA or the financial aid office that my custodial parent got remarried even after I had submitted the FAFSA back in October/November of 2016. My mother and I had lived on our own (she was single) for all of 2016 and up until August of 2017. My sophomore year began in August of 2017, right after the remarriage. Am I supposed to tell someone about their remarriage at this point? Is it illegal to just go on without informing them and just use the new tax information (higher income) for this coming up year’s FAFSA information? As in, just ignore this remarriage until I reapply for FAFSA for the 2018-2019 school year? I may be liable for thousands of dollars if they decide to revoke this aid after I go in to inform them
The marital status for your parents is as of the date you file your FAFSA. So…if they didn’t get married until August 2017, your October 2016 FAFSA would not have them as married…and no…you don’t change that one…that’s the 2017-2018 FAFSA, right?
But since your mom is now married…and was or will be married when you file your 2018-2019 FAFSA, both your mom and stepdad incomes from 2016 MUST be included.
When exactly do you plan to do your 2018-2019 FAFSA…it became available for submission in October 2017…make sure you don’t miss the deadline for continuing students.
If mom got married in August 2017 the FAFSA for school year 2018-2019 opened October 1, 2017. Op’s Mom should have filed as married since she was married on the day of filing. She would use her 2016 income along with your stepdad’s 2016 income
Op needs to correct the FAFSA for school year 2018 since it was filed erroneously. Own the mistake and don’t be out there thinking that you willingly wanted to commit fraud. This way you will get s correct adjusted award letter.
The OP is asking if she needs to change the 2017-2018 FAFSA because her parent married before that academic year started. The answer to that is…NO…right? Because in October 2016 when that one was filed…mom was not married.
School year 2017-2018 was filed in 2016 when mom was still a single person. So he is ok for 2017/-2018 school year. Op must include the combined incomes for school year 2018-2019
Hello, thank you (and @thumper1 ) for your quick replies! If that’s the case, then I will just go ahead and fill out this coming up year’s FAFSA with both of their incomes! That was the plan originally of course, I just wanted to make sure I didn’t have to backtrack my financial aid from the 2017-2018 school year I just finished.
Because your parents were not married in 2016, and you need both incomes…you won’t be able to use the IRS DTR when you do your FAFSA. I would strongly suggest that your mom and stepdad each get a tax transcript from 2016 taxes because you will probably need them.
Curious here … For the 2018-19 school year, FA applicants use 2016 tax year data. Mom was not married in tax year 2016. Student still has to submit now-step-dad’s tax info from 2016?
I can understand having to report that there’s been a change in circumstances, that mom is now married, and perhaps submit mom’s single 2016 tax return AND step-dad’s 2017 return. But why 2016 for step-dad? Just curious.
If the parent is remarried when they file the 2018/19 FAFSA, then the income of the mom and her spouse is to be reported for the tax year 2016, plus assets of both as of the day of filing, and any income and assets of the student.
You won’t be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool because your mom and stepdad weren’t filing their taxes together in 2016.
Work with the financial aid office to see what information you need to provide.
The FAFSA for 2018/19 has been available since October 2017, why are you just filing it now?
@brantly yes…the FAFSA marital status is as of the date of filing the form. So…the mom is now married. When this student completes the 2018-2019 FAFSA BOTH income from her mom and stepparent will need to be used.
She or he will need both 2016 tax returns so she can add together the required fields to enter…from BOTH tax returns. She will not be able to use the IRS data retrieval tool, so both of these adults should request 2016 tax transcripts.
