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How to Fill Out the FAFSA if Parent Did Not File Income Tax

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and Cait Williams

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Annie has spent the past 18+ years educating students about college admissions opportunities and coaching them through building a financial aid package. She has worked in college access and college admissions for the Tennessee Higher Education Commission/Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation, Middle Tennessee State University, and Austin Peay State University. Full Bio

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Updated: July 19th, 2023

Filling out the FAFSA can be tricky if your parents have no income tax filed. But students whose parents have an authorized extension on their taxes have nothing to fear. Although the process will be slightly more complicated, you will be able to receive aid. If your parents have documentation of their income from the previous year, you can still complete the FAFSA.

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Why didn’t my parents file their taxes?

You may be wondering why your parents haven’t filed their income taxes. There are many possible explanations for this, but here we will go over a few of the most common. It’s important to determine the reason your parents haven’t filed. If their failure to file is unauthorized, you may be disqualified from federal aid. Here are some common reasons for not filing taxes by the deadline:

Received an extension 

Your parents may have filed for an extension from the IRS. Taxpayers are automatically granted a 6-month extension if they file before the deadline. If your parents required an extension for any reason and filed in time, they may not have their taxes yet.

Living out of the country 

Taxpayers who live outside the country receive an extra two months to file. They are not required to file an extension. If your parents live outside of the country and have not yet filed, don’t fret. It may count as an excused extension in the eyes of the IRS.

Military suspension of filing deadline 

Active members of the military may receive an extension on their taxes without having to file for one.

Unauthorized failure to file taxes

In this situation, your parents have not received permission from the IRS to extend their deadline. Regardless of any extenuating circumstances, if they do not fit in the categories above, their delay is unauthorized. In this situation, you may be disqualified from federal aid. That being said, students whose parents are incarcerated or institutionalized may be able to file as an independent. Additionally, failures to file due to natural disasters may be excusable. Students affected by a natural disaster should reach out to the IRS and financial aid administrators for assistance.

What documents do I need to file the FAFSA?

Students whose parents have filed their taxes will have a simpler time filing the FAFSA. The FAFSA form is integrated into the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which imports financial information automatically. But this tool cannot be used if your parents have not filed their taxes. Fortunately, if your parents’ failure to file is authorized, you’ll be able to fill out the FAFSA using other documents. It’ll just take a little more work.

Alternative forms if your parents haven’t filed their taxes:

• Parents’ last pay stub of the year in question
• Combination of their W-2 and 1099 forms
• Signed statement that lists their adjusted gross income, if they are self-employed

Because you are inputting information by hand, you should take extra care to ensure that it’s accurate. Overreporting of income may result in a lower financial aid package. Conversely, underreporting can lead to legal trouble. If it’s determined that your underreporting was intentional, it is considered fraudulent.

What if my parents don’t have the necessary forms?

If your parents don’t have any of the necessary forms on-hand, they should be able to obtain them. Employers are legally required to provide these documents upon request. Unfortunately, some employers may be slow to provide the information. As a result, it’s a good idea to start collecting them long before the FAFSA deadline. 

What if my parents’ failure to file is unauthorized?

If your parents did not receive permission to delay their filing, you will be ineligible for financial aid. If your parents simply forgot to file, you should urge them to do so immediately. If your parents are unwilling to file their taxes for other reasons, unfortunately, there is little that you can do. However, you shouldn’t be discouraged from still trying to pursue your degree! Your best option may be to take a gap year and work to save up money to pay for school on your own, or  to look into affordable alternatives to a four-year college. These can include coding bootcamp, trade school, community college, and certificate programs. You can also explore  income share agreements as a way to pay for your education!

Key Takeaways

• Speak with your parents about whether they have filed, if they plan to file, or if they have a valid extension and plan to file later in the year 
• If they don’t plan to file, try tracking down alternative documentation that your parents may have to file your FAFSA with, such as a W-2 and 1099 form
• Once you have those alternative documents, fill out the FAFSA
• If you are unable to obtain documentation and your parents don’t plan to file, carefully consider what your options are in regard to pursuing your education and what may be a realistic plan for your near future

Frequently asked questions about how to fill out the FAFSA if parent did not file income tax