A few questions…
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Are you required to file a tax return and are choosing not to?
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Are you really the custodial parent?
If you haven’t filed a tax return, you will need to complete a non-filers statement. You will have to indicate why you didn’t file a return. If the reason is “I didn’t feel like it” that won’t fly. There are legit reasons for not filing a return…never worked that year, income below a certain threshold, things like that.
But if you were supposed to file a return and didn’t, you are correct…you will need to correct your tax filing situation or your student won’t receive a nickel of need based aid.
@HMom16 you wrote “ The non-custodial parent will usually need to file as well.“
The non-custodial parent is never mentioned on the FAFSA so really the tax filing status if that non-custodial parent for FAFSA financial aid purposes is a non issue.
If this student applies to a college requiring the CSS Profile and the non-custodial parent form, then both parents need to complete tax returns if required to file.
To @paul6001 one thing to remember…in two years, the FAFSA is changing. For divorced parents, the parent who provides the most support will be required to file the FAFSA, not the parent of residence.