Can my 23-year-old law student submit FAFSA without filing 2022 taxes?
My son is currently in his first year of law school and needs to fill out the FAFSA for next year's financial aid. Problem is, he worked part-time through undergrad but never filed his 2022 taxes (I know, I know). The FAFSA application is asking for his 2022 tax info, and we're stuck. Is there any way for him to submit the application without filing those back taxes first? If he does have to file late, will that hurt his chances for aid or delay his application processing? His school's priority deadline is coming up fast and I'm getting worried. He's technically independent since he's 23, so I'm not sure if that changes anything.
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Nora Bennett
Unfortunately, your son will need to file his 2022 taxes before completing the 2025-2026 FAFSA accurately. The FAFSA requires tax information from the "prior-prior year" (which is 2022 for the upcoming aid cycle). Here are the implications: 1. Without filing, he would have to estimate income, which would trigger verification almost certainly 2. During verification, he'd be required to provide the tax transcript anyway 3. His SAI (Student Aid Index) calculation would be inaccurate without proper tax data 4. Law school financial aid offices typically require complete documentation He should file his 2022 taxes ASAP - there's no penalty if he wasn't required to file and is owed a refund. If he did owe taxes, there will be penalties, but filing the FAFSA correctly is more important for his aid eligibility.
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Oscar Murphy
•Thank you for the detailed response. I was afraid that might be the case. Do you know roughly how long it takes for the IRS to process a late tax return? I'm concerned about him missing the priority deadline at his law school while waiting for his return to process.
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Ryan Andre
my daughter was in similar situation last yr. she didn't file taxes either (only had work study) and we just put zeros on the fafsa form. got flagged for verification later and was a HUGE PAIN. had to file taxes retroactively and resubmit everything. delayed her aid package by like 2 months. don't do what we did lol
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Lauren Zeb
•I did the same thing two years ago and got AUDITED!! The financial aid office basically told me I had committed fraud (even though it was just a mistake). Almost lost my grants and had to appeal with like 50 documents. Your son should definitely file before submitting FAFSA!!!
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Daniel Washington
He can technically submit without filing taxes by selecting "will file" option but its gonna get flagged for verification 100%. Had the same issue w/ my FAFSA last year.
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Aurora Lacasse
•This is correct - you can select "will file" on the FAFSA, but law schools typically have stringent verification processes. When the verification request comes (and it will), your son will need to provide a tax transcript anyway. It's much better to file now and avoid delays in his financial aid package, especially since law school awards often have strict deadlines. One option: he can file a simple return quickly and then submit an amended return later if needed. The important thing is getting something on file with the IRS so he can complete verification when it comes.
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Anthony Young
Have your son file his 2022 taxes immediately using electronic filing. E-filed returns typically process within 3-4 weeks, sometimes faster. Then he can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA which automatically imports his tax information and reduces the chance of verification. If the law school deadline is too close, have him contact the financial aid office directly and explain the situation. Many schools will grant extensions if you're proactive about communicating the issue. He should document all communications with the financial aid office in case there are questions later. Law school financial aid can be complex - don't risk his aid package over unfiled taxes!
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Oscar Murphy
•That's really helpful advice about contacting the financial aid office directly. I'll have him call them tomorrow to explain the situation. And I'll make sure he e-files rather than sending paper forms to speed things up. Thanks!
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Charlotte White
why didn't he file taxes in 2022? if he made under the minimum required amount then technically he wasn't required to file... though for FAFSA it still helps to file even with low income
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Oscar Murphy
•He was working part-time making around $8,000 that year while finishing undergrad, so he wasn't required to file. We just didn't realize it would cause issues with his FAFSA later. Definitely a lesson learned!
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Anthony Young
Another important point: if your son made less than $12,950 in 2022 (the standard deduction for single filers), he likely won't owe any federal taxes. Filing might actually get him a refund if his employer withheld anything. For FAFSA purposes, having a low official income on record could potentially help his SAI calculation, which determines aid eligibility. Not filing essentially makes the system assume his income might be higher than it actually was.
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Ryan Andre
•yep! my daughter got money BACK when she finally filed. wish we had just done it from the beginning instead of dealing with verification headache!
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Daniel Washington
Trying to call the FSA helpline about this exact issue was a NIGHTMARE. Waited 2+ hours multiple times and kept getting disconnected.
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Lauren Zeb
•I had the same issue trying to resolve my verification problems! After my third disconnection I was about to lose my mind. Then a classmate told me about Claimyr.com which got me through to an actual FSA agent in less than 20 minutes. They have this system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is ready. Saved me hours of frustration. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. Definitely worth it when you're dealing with time-sensitive financial aid issues.
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Aurora Lacasse
Law school financial aid advisor here. This is a common issue, and I always recommend students file any outstanding tax returns ASAP. Here's what your son should do: 1. File the 2022 return immediately 2. Contact his law school's financial aid office explaining the situation 3. Submit the FAFSA using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool once the return is processed 4. If the school deadline is approaching, submit the FAFSA with estimated figures but notify the school that an updated FAFSA will be coming Many law schools set aside institutional grants for students who meet priority deadlines. Missing those deadlines can impact not just federal aid but school-specific scholarships and grants, which are crucial for managing law school costs. Don't delay!
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Charlotte White
•do all law schools require fafsa? i thought some private ones dont even take federal loans
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Oscar Murphy
Thank you everyone for the helpful advice! I've talked with my son and he's going to e-file his 2022 taxes tomorrow. He's also going to call the financial aid office to explain the situation and ask about a possible extension for the priority deadline. It sounds like trying to submit without filing would create even bigger headaches down the road. I really appreciate all the insights!
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Nora Bennett
•Great plan! One last tip: have him keep copies of everything - his tax return, any communications with the financial aid office, and confirmation that he filed. Documentation is invaluable if questions arise later. Wishing him the best with his law school journey!
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Alfredo Lugo
As someone who went through a similar situation with my nephew last year, I just want to emphasize how important it is to get ahead of this now. We made the mistake of waiting until after the priority deadline to sort out his tax issues, and he ended up losing out on about $3,000 in institutional grants that were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. One thing I'd add - if your son's 2022 income was really low (under $10,000), he might actually qualify for simplified needs test or automatic zero EFC benefits once he files properly. This could work in his favor for aid calculations. The key is just getting that return filed ASAP so the FAFSA reflects his actual financial situation rather than estimates that will trigger verification. Good luck to both of you - law school financing is stressful enough without tax complications!
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