<p>Hello all, our AGI is 52k, and we do not pay for federal tax. Are there any ones know if we could use the simplified need test chart? I do not have other itemized deductions. Sounds I do not qualify for 1040EZ because we claim kids as defendants. Do I understand right? Any could help me on those questions?</p>
<p>Hi,</p>
<p>I hope some here can help you. I’m guessing that you have some English language issues, but that’s ok, we’ll try to help you.
(BTW…your kids are dependents, not defendants (at least we hope 
)</p>
<p>Are you saying that your AGI is $52k, but you don’t pay any federal tax. Is that because you live outside of the US? Or is that because you’re under the threshold for paying federal tax?</p>
<p>How many people are in your household?</p>
<p>Is this your first time filing a federal tax return?</p>
<p>Have you tried an online EFC calculator? [FinAid</a> | Calculators | Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Aid](<a href=“http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml]FinAid”>http://www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml)</p>
<p>Will your child be applying to public or private universities?</p>
<p>To start with the simplified needs test income cut off is currently AGI less than $50,000. So unless that changes for 2010-2011 you do not qualify for the simplified needs test based on your income.</p>
<p>But if your income were lower, claiming your kids as dependents does not make you ineligible to file 1040ez or 1040a. </p>
<p>Your income is $52k and you are paying no federal tax? Unless you have a lot of kids then you must have some sort of other deductions to be not paying federal taxes on that income. There are quite a few things that can make one ineligible for 1040a and 1040ez.</p>
<p>All simplified needs does is make your assets not be included in the EFC calculation. Unless your reportable assets are fairly high the simplified needs test probably would not make a lot of difference.</p>
<p>And you do not ‘use the simplified needs chart’. You enter your data in FAFSA and it decides if you are eligible for simplified needs. You don’t use any sort of chart.</p>
<p>Oh, Mom2collegekids: I GOTTA say I don’t laugh out loud very much at anything, certainly not CC. But, this…</p>
<p>“(BTW…your kids are dependents, not defendants (at least we hope)”</p>
<p>…just made me LOL. Not making fun, OP…it’s just funny, I can’t help it! I didn’t even realilze that’s what the post said (we sometimes see what we want to see) until I read your post.</p>
<p>Hi thanks very much for your help. I have two kids and currently my husband has no income, I think I am under the threshold for federal tax. I have some in savings, from what you said, sounds my situation does not apply to 1040ez. I will try falsa to see… Thanks again.</p>
<p>thanks swimcatsmom for your knowledgeable help.</p>
<p>Bearmoms, I am a bit confused. You say your AGI is $52,000 & you pay no taxes. Will you actually file a tax return in 2009? That is the key question here. I am going to assume you will file … because you HAVE TO file with that AGI. If you don’t, no financial aid. I say this with conviction, because our office has a big problem with people who should file but do not. We cannot process their children for financial aid if they do not file if they are required to file. So I will assume that you will file and that the 0 taxes means that you will end up with 0 for “total tax” on your tax return. You can go to [Internal</a> Revenue Service](<a href=“http://www.irs.gov%5DInternal”>http://www.irs.gov) to figure out what your tax will be based on your expected income & other information. </p>
<p>Let’s assume you can get your AGI under the threshold for simple needs analysis (currently $50,000). The next step is to be able to say yes to ONE of the following: ABLE TO file a 1040A/EZ (I will address that in a moment …); OR someone in the immediate family has received federal means tested benefits within the last 24 months (TANF, WIC, SSI, free/reduced lunch); OR parent is a dislocated worker or displaced homemaker (see federal guidelines for explanation). If you have the AGI and one of the others, you qualify. Otherwise, you do not & assets will be counted in the formula.</p>
<p>As for tax filing … you can fill out a 1040 even if you COULD fill out a 1040A/EZ. Many tax preparers always use the 1040. Be very careful here, though. If you itemize, claim certain other deductions, have business income, etc. you must answer no to the question about being able to file a 1040A/EZ. If you have anything on that tax form that could not be put on a 1040A/EZ … you were not able to file the A/EZ. Sure, you might have been able to had you not had the income or credits you claimed, but you DID, so you couldn’t have filed the 1040A/EZ.</p>