parent separated but filed jointly, can parent still use data retrieval tool? I assume the income will be the custodian parent’s income based on the 1040, but won’t the data be inaccurate?
Does parent have to provide document for “legal separation”? parent only has separation agreement as NJ does not have “legal separation”. Will it be sufficient?
You won’t be able to use the retrieval tool if the parents filed jointly in 2015 and now you want to file FAFSA as a single parent. You can just break out the information, file the FAFSA with that, and prepare to be selected for verification.
You probably will not be asked to prove you are separated. If you are, the agreement should work, or maybe proof you live separately like a lease for utility bills from the non-custodial parent’s new address.
@twoinanddone thanks. But what about the deduction and amount of taxes paid. I assumed parent can use the single income to calculate the taxes paid, but it is completed when a high amount of medical deduction is included. Should it be just divided equally?
For the verification, will it come from the college (I would expect) or will FAFSA do any verification (just now sure how it works)?
You don’t divide the income equally.
You need to put what your custodial parent earned in 2015 on the fafsa form. You will need w-2 forms to document that this was indeed that custodial parent income. You might need the non-custodial parent w-2 so,the school will know you subtracted the correct amount.
Assets…you put your cistodial parent share of the assets.
For the fafsa…you don’t include anything about the non-custodial parent.
If you have medical bills, there is NO PLACE on the fafsa to indicate that at all. This would be done by asking ea h school for a professional judgment. You would need to document the amount your custodial parent paid in U reimbursed medical costs…with receipts, and EPBs, and cancelled checks or whatever.
Your custodial parent would also need to list any child or spousal support on the fafsa.