Can I still get FAFSA if my parents owe IRS back taxes?

SAME BOAT HERE!!! My dad owes back taxes (about $22k) and I'm halfway through my application. Tbh the whole system is set up to punish people. Like, you're already struggling financially and now they want to deny your kids education?! What are we supposed to do?!

Back taxes don't automatically disqualify you from FAFSA. Your parents will still need to complete their section of the application using their tax information.

when i applied last yr my mom had tax issues too and i still got aid. the fafsa just looks at income not debt to irs

Financial aid advisor here. Having back taxes doesn't automatically disqualify anyone from federal student aid. The FAFSA primarily looks at income and assets, not debt (including tax debt). Here's what you need to know: 1. Your parents WILL need to provide their tax information on the FAFSA 2. They may need to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, which might be complicated with back taxes 3. If they can't use the IRS DRT, they'll need to manually enter their tax information 4. Being on a payment plan with the IRS is actually good - it shows they're addressing the issue The real concern would be if they haven't filed taxes at all, which could create verification issues. As long as they've filed (even if they owe), you should be able to complete the FAFSA process.

That's a great question about Parent PLUS loans. This is where back taxes can potentially create an issue: Parent PLUS loans do require a credit check, and significant tax liens might affect eligibility. However, it's not an automatic disqualification - the specific criteria is "no adverse credit history." If your parents are on an established payment plan with the IRS, that actually works in their favor. They can still apply, and if denied, you'd potentially be eligible for additional unsubsidized loans in your name.

My ex husband owed back taxes when my daughter was applying for college. We spent HOURS on hold trying to reach someone at Federal Student Aid to figure out how to handle it. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool kept rejecting us and no one would pick up the phone. Finally found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us through to an actual FSA agent in under 20 minutes - they have a demo video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent explained that we needed to manually enter the tax info and submit a special form explaining the IRS situation. My daughter ended up getting her full Pell Grant and subsidized loans. Back taxes aren't a deal breaker as long as returns were filed!

This whole system is so F***ED UP. My parents' financial mistakes shouldn't impact MY education!!!! The fact that we have to jump through all these hoops just to get an education is why this country is falling apart. 🤬

I went through this exact situation last year. Here's what worked for us: 1. My parents couldn't use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool because of their back taxes situation 2. We entered all tax information manually using their actual 1040 forms 3. We got selected for verification (probably because of not using the DRT) 4. We submitted copies of tax transcripts, which we ordered directly from the IRS website 5. My mom wrote a brief letter explaining they were on a payment plan 6. My aid was processed about 3 weeks later I ended up getting a decent financial aid package with Pell Grants and subsidized loans. My SAI (Student Aid Index) actually came out lower than expected because their income wasn't that high. Don't panic - just be prepared for possible verification and extra documentation steps.

my brother didnt file taxes for 2 years and his kids couldnt get financial aid so its different if u dont file vs if u owe

Thank you everyone for the helpful answers! I talked to my parents and they confirmed they've filed every year but just owe money from an audit. I feel so much better knowing we can still complete the FAFSA. We'll gather all the tax documents just in case we get selected for verification. And I'll check out that Claimyr service if we have trouble reaching someone at FSA. You all have been amazing!!

So glad you got clarity on this! Just wanted to add - if your parents are on an IRS payment plan, make sure they keep documentation of that arrangement. It can actually help show they're being responsible about the debt if questions come up during verification. Also, don't stress too much about the verification process if it happens - it's actually pretty common and just means they want to double-check some info. The financial aid office at your school will walk you through exactly what they need. You've got this! 🎓

Just wanted to chime in as someone who works in financial aid - you're getting great advice here! One thing I'd add is that if your parents are worried about the FAFSA process because of their tax situation, they might want to consider reaching out to the financial aid office at your school directly. Most schools have experienced staff who've dealt with similar situations and can guide you through any complications that might arise. They're usually much more helpful than the general FSA hotline and know the specific procedures for handling tax debt scenarios. Also, since you mentioned your parents don't make much money, you'll likely qualify for need-based aid regardless of the back taxes - the system is designed to help students from low-income families access education!

Hey Sofia! I went through something super similar when I was applying for college. My parents owed about $12k in back taxes and I was convinced I wouldn't get any aid. Turns out everyone here is right - the back taxes don't disqualify you! The key thing is that your parents filed their returns (which it sounds like they did). I ended up getting a really good aid package - full Pell Grant plus subsidized loans. The only extra step was that we got selected for verification and had to submit some additional documents, but the financial aid office walked us through everything. One tip: when you're filling out the FAFSA, make sure your parents use the exact numbers from their actual tax returns, not what they think they should have reported. The system will flag any discrepancies. Also keep copies of everything - their returns, the payment plan agreement with the IRS, bank statements, etc. Having all that ready made the verification process way smoother. Don't let your parents' anxiety about this derail your college plans. You deserve to get an education and the system is set up to help students like us whose families are dealing with financial challenges. Good luck! 💪

Hey Sofia! Just wanted to add my voice to everyone else's reassurance here. I'm a college junior who went through this exact situation two years ago. My parents owed about $25k in back taxes from their small business, and I was absolutely terrified I wouldn't be able to afford college. Long story short - I got great financial aid! Full Pell Grant, work-study, and subsidized loans that covered almost everything. The FAFSA process was a bit more complicated (we couldn't use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool and got selected for verification), but the financial aid office at my school was super patient and helpful. One thing that really helped us was being completely transparent with the financial aid office about our situation from the start. When we submitted our initial documents, my mom included a brief letter explaining that they were on an IRS payment plan and attached a copy of the payment agreement. The financial aid counselor later told us that this proactive approach actually made the process smoother because they knew what to expect. Also, don't let anyone make you feel bad about needing financial aid - that's literally what it's there for! The fact that your parents are making payments shows they're trying to handle their responsibilities, and that shouldn't prevent you from pursuing your education. You've got this! 🎓

Hey Sofia! I'm so glad you posted this question because I'm literally in the same exact situation right now. My parents owe around $15k in back taxes and I've been losing sleep over whether I'll be able to get financial aid. Reading through all these responses has been such a huge relief! I especially appreciate everyone who shared their actual experiences - it's so much more helpful than just getting generic advice. The fact that multiple people have successfully gotten aid despite their parents' tax debt gives me hope that we can too. One thing I'm taking away from all this is that preparation is key. I'm going to start gathering all our tax documents now, make copies of the IRS payment plan agreement, and maybe even draft a brief explanation letter to include with our FAFSA submission. Better to be over-prepared than caught off guard! Thanks for asking this question and creating such a helpful thread. Good luck with your applications - sounds like we're both going to be just fine! 📚✨

This thread has been such a lifesaver! I'm a freshman who just went through this process last year and wanted to add one more perspective. My parents owed back taxes AND had filed for an extension, which made things even more complicated. But I still got my full financial aid package! The key thing that helped us was staying organized and communicating with the school's financial aid office early and often. When we hit roadblocks (like not being able to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool), we called the school directly instead of trying to figure it out on our own. They had specific procedures for situations like ours and even gave us a checklist of exactly which documents to submit. Also, don't be afraid to apply to multiple schools - each one handles these situations slightly differently, and you might find that some are more accommodating than others in terms of working with families who have tax complications. Sofia, your parents being on a payment plan is actually a really good sign that they're taking responsibility for the debt. That's going to work in your favor if any questions come up. You're going to do great! 💪

Hey Sofia! I'm a college sophomore who went through this exact same situation two years ago, and I wanted to share my experience to hopefully ease your worries a bit. My parents owed around $20k in back taxes from their small business, and I was absolutely convinced I wouldn't qualify for any financial aid. Turns out I was completely wrong! I ended up receiving a substantial financial aid package including Pell Grants and subsidized loans. The key things that helped us: 1. My parents had filed their taxes each year (they just owed money) - this is crucial 2. We gathered ALL documentation ahead of time: tax returns, IRS payment plan agreement, bank statements, etc. 3. We were completely upfront with the financial aid office about our situation from day one Yes, we got selected for verification and couldn't use the automatic IRS tool, but the manual process wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. The financial aid counselors were actually super understanding and walked us through everything step by step. One tip that really helped: my mom wrote a brief cover letter explaining that they were on an active payment plan with the IRS and included a copy of the agreement. The financial aid officer later told us this proactive approach made the whole process much smoother. Don't let your parents' anxiety about their tax situation derail your college dreams. The financial aid system is designed to help students from families facing financial challenges - that includes tax debt! You've got this! 🎓

I'm a junior in college and went through this same situation! My parents owed about $14k in back taxes when I was applying. I want to echo what everyone else has said - having back taxes does NOT disqualify you from financial aid! The most important thing is that your parents have filed their returns, which it sounds like they have. Here's what made the difference for us: we treated the FAFSA application like any other important financial document and were super thorough. When we couldn't use the automatic IRS tool (which is common with back taxes), we manually entered everything using their actual tax returns. We also kept detailed records of their payment plan with the IRS. I ended up getting a great aid package - Pell Grant, state grants, and subsidized loans that covered most of my costs. Yes, we went through verification, but honestly it wasn't that bad. The financial aid office gave us a list of exactly what they needed and we just worked through it step by step. Your parents' income matters way more than their debt for FAFSA purposes. Since you mentioned they don't make much money, you'll likely qualify for significant need-based aid. Don't let their tax situation scare you away from applying - you deserve the chance to get an education! The system is specifically designed to help students from families facing financial challenges.

Hi Sofia! I'm a financial aid counselor and wanted to jump in to reassure you - you're getting excellent advice in this thread! Back taxes absolutely do NOT disqualify you from federal financial aid. The FAFSA looks at income and assets, not debt obligations. A few practical tips from my experience: 1. Since your parents are on an IRS payment plan, they're actually in better shape than many families I work with 2. Keep copies of that payment plan agreement - it shows financial responsibility if questions arise 3. You'll likely need to enter tax info manually instead of using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool 4. If selected for verification (pretty common in these cases), don't panic - we're used to helping families navigate this Given that your parents don't make much income, you'll probably qualify for substantial need-based aid regardless of the tax debt. The system is designed to help students from low-income families access education! One last thing - reach out to the financial aid offices at your prospective schools early. We're here to help, not to create barriers. Most of us have worked with similar situations and can guide you through any school-specific requirements. You're going to be just fine! Focus on your applications and don't let this tax situation derail your college dreams. 🎓

Hey Sofia! I'm a senior who just went through this whole process last year with a very similar situation. My parents owed around $16k in back taxes and I was absolutely terrified I wouldn't get any aid. I'm happy to report that I got a fantastic financial aid package - full Pell Grant, state grants, and work-study that covered almost everything! The back taxes didn't hurt me at all. Here's what I learned: 1. The FAFSA cares about your family's income, not their debts (including tax debt) 2. Being on a payment plan with the IRS actually shows responsibility 3. You'll probably have to enter tax info manually instead of using the automatic tool 4. Verification is super common but not scary - just extra paperwork The biggest game-changer for us was being completely honest and proactive with our school's financial aid office. When we submitted our initial documents, we included a brief letter explaining the IRS payment plan situation and attached a copy of the agreement. The counselor told us later this made everything so much smoother. Don't let your parents' embarrassment about their tax situation hold you back from your education. You didn't create this debt and you absolutely deserve financial aid to pursue your dreams. The system is literally designed to help students from families facing financial challenges! You've got this! 💪✨

Hey Sofia! I'm a college freshman who literally just went through this exact situation last fall! My parents owed about $13k in back taxes and I was convinced I'd have to forget about college. Spoiler alert: I'm writing this from my dorm room with a full financial aid package! The advice you're getting here is spot on - back taxes don't disqualify you from aid. What really helped us was getting organized early. We made copies of everything: tax returns, the IRS payment agreement, bank statements, W-2s, the works. When we couldn't use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (super common with back taxes), we just entered everything manually. Got selected for verification but it was honestly no big deal. The financial aid office walked us through exactly what they needed and were so patient with all our questions. My aid counselor even said families on IRS payment plans are usually more organized with their paperwork than most! One thing that surprised me - my Expected Family Contribution came out lower than I thought because the system only looks at income/assets, not debt. Ended up qualifying for more aid than I originally calculated. Don't let your parents' stress about this derail your college plans. You've got a whole community here rooting for you! 🎓💙