Confused about tax Schedule letters (A,B,D,E,H) for FAFSA - which ones do I need?

Not a dumb question at all! Those schedules are additional tax forms that some people file with their 1040, but not everyone needs them. Schedule A is for itemized deductions, B is for interest and dividends, D is for capital gains, E is for supplemental income (like rental properties), and H is for household employment taxes. If your parents didn't have any of these types of income or deductions, they probably didn't file these schedules.

i had the same prob last yr. just ask ur parents if they filed any special schedules with their taxes. if they just did the basic 1040 with w2 income you can prob put 0 or leave blank. thats what i did and it worked fine

I recommend using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool through the FAFSA. It will automatically pull the correct information from your parents' tax returns if they're eligible. This way you don't have to worry about figuring out which schedules they filed - the tool does it for you. Just click on the 'Link to IRS' button during the financial information section of the FAFSA.

The FAFSA system is DELIBERATELY CONFUSING!!! They make it hard so people give up and don't get the aid they deserve. I spent 5 hrs trying to figure out the same question last year. Why can't they just explain this stuff clearly?? The whole system is rigged against first-gen college students!!!!

If you can't reach your parents to ask about their tax forms, you should really try calling Federal Student Aid directly at 1-800-433-3243. They can explain exactly what information you need for your specific situation. Just be prepared to wait on hold forever - I was on hold for 2+ hours last month trying to fix an issue with my SAI calculation.

To directly answer your question: You shouldn't put "not sure" on the FAFSA. If your parents only received W-2 forms and had standard deductions, they likely only filed the main 1040 form without additional schedules. In that case, you would enter $0 for those schedule values. But you should verify this with them if possible. If they did file any of these schedules, the values would be on lines: - Schedule A (itemized deductions): Line 17 - Schedule B (interest/dividends): Line 4 for interest, Line 6 for dividends - Schedule D (capital gains): Line 16 - Schedule E (rental income, etc): Line 26 for rental real estate, Line 32 for other income - Schedule H (household employment): Line 8

my sister went thru this last yr and our family dint have any of those schedules cuz we just have normal jobs. but when i did mine this yr i got confused too cuz the question makes it seem like everyone should have these forms lol. like why they even ask if most ppl dont file them??

Quick tip: Make sure you check the right tax year too! The 2025-2026 FAFSA uses 2023 tax information (not 2024). So you'd need to look at the 2023 tax return your parents filed in 2024. A lot of students make that mistake.

Just wanted to add that you can also check if your parents filed these schedules by looking at their tax return summary page (Form 1040). If they filed any additional schedules, they would be listed in the "Forms and Schedules" section or attached to the main 1040. Also, if you're still unsure after talking to your parents, many college financial aid offices have staff who can help you interpret tax forms - don't hesitate to reach out to them directly. They deal with these questions all the time and are usually very patient with first-time FAFSA filers!

Hey Mason! I just went through this exact same situation a few months ago when I was filling out my FAFSA. The tax schedule confusion is so real! From what I learned, most families with straightforward tax situations (just W-2 income, standard deduction) won't have filed these additional schedules at all. It sounds like you've already gotten confirmation from your dad that they only had W-2s and didn't itemize, so you should be good to enter $0 for all those schedule fields. One thing that helped me was asking my parents to just quickly scan through their tax return to double-check - even if they're not helping much with the actual FAFSA, they can probably tell you in 30 seconds whether they filed any extra forms beyond the basic 1040. Don't stress too much - you're asking all the right questions and it sounds like you're on the right track!

I just wanted to chime in as someone who works at a college financial aid office - we see this confusion about tax schedules ALL the time, so please don't feel bad about asking! You're absolutely right that these are additional forms that get attached to the main 1040, and the vast majority of families don't need to file them. Since your parents confirmed they only had W-2 income and took the standard deduction, entering $0 for all those schedule fields is correct. One quick tip: if you ever need to double-check in the future, look for "Schedule [letter]" at the top of any additional pages in the tax return. If those pages aren't there, then those schedules weren't filed. You're doing great by being thorough and asking questions - that's exactly the right approach for FAFSA!

I'm a new community member here and just wanted to say how helpful this entire thread has been! I'm starting my FAFSA application soon and was already dreading the tax form questions. Reading through everyone's explanations about the different schedules and when they're needed has really demystified the process for me. It's so reassuring to see that financial aid office staff like Paolo are active in this community and that this kind of confusion is completely normal. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and advice - you've probably helped way more students than just Mason with this question!

As someone who just finished the FAFSA process myself, I want to echo what others have said - you're definitely not alone in this confusion! The tax schedule questions trip up so many first-time filers. It sounds like you've gotten great advice here and figured out that you can enter $0 for those schedules since your parents only had W-2 income. One thing I'd add is to keep a copy of whatever information you enter on your FAFSA, because if you get selected for verification later (which happens randomly to some students), you'll need to provide documentation to support what you reported. Having those notes will save you from having to re-research everything. You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront rather than guessing!

I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I just went through this exact same confusion last month! Mason, you're asking all the right questions. What really helped me was understanding that these tax schedules are basically "add-on" forms that only apply if you have specific types of income or deductions. Most families with just regular jobs and standard deductions won't need them at all. Since your dad confirmed they only had W-2s and didn't itemize, you're absolutely safe putting $0 for all those schedule fields. The FAFSA makes it seem like everyone should have these forms, but honestly most people don't! Don't let the confusing wording psych you out - you've got this!

Hey Mason! I'm new here but had to jump in because I literally just submitted my FAFSA last week and went through this EXACT same confusion! The way the FAFSA words those tax schedule questions is so intimidating - it makes you think you're missing something important when really most families don't even file these extra schedules. Since your dad confirmed they only had W-2 income and took the standard deduction, you're 100% correct to enter $0 for all those schedule fields. I did the same thing after my parents told me they had a "basic" tax return, and my FAFSA processed without any issues. One thing that helped ease my anxiety was realizing that if there was actually income from these schedules that should have been reported, it would already be included in the main income lines on the 1040 anyway - so you're not "hiding" anything by putting $0 if the schedules don't exist. You're being so responsible by double-checking everything instead of just guessing. That's exactly the right approach! The FAFSA process is confusing enough without the added stress of cryptic tax questions, but it sounds like you've got it figured out now.

Hey Mason! I'm new to this community and just wanted to add my voice to all the great advice you've already received. I went through this same confusion when I filled out my FAFSA earlier this year, and it's honestly one of those things that seems way more complicated than it actually is once you understand what those schedules are for. Since your dad confirmed they only had W-2 income and didn't itemize deductions, you're absolutely right to enter $0 for all those schedule fields. The key thing to remember is that these schedules are really only relevant for families who have more complex financial situations - like if they own rental properties, have significant investment income, run a business, or have other non-standard income sources. What really helped me was thinking of it this way: if your parents' tax situation was straightforward enough that they could use tax software or a basic tax preparer, they probably didn't need any of these additional schedules. The FAFSA has to ask about all possible income sources to be thorough, but that doesn't mean every family will have something to report for each category. You're doing exactly the right thing by asking questions and confirming details with your parents. Don't worry about your financial aid chances - being accurate is way more important than having complex finances! Good luck with the rest of your application!

Hey Mason! I'm new to this community and just wanted to chime in with my recent experience. I literally just went through this same exact situation a couple months ago when filling out my FAFSA for the first time. The tax schedule questions are SO confusing when you're not familiar with tax terminology! From reading through all the great advice you've gotten here, it sounds like you're in the same boat I was - parents with straightforward W-2 jobs who took the standard deduction. I ended up putting $0 for all those schedule fields too after confirming with my parents that they didn't file any additional schedules beyond the basic 1040. One thing that really helped me feel more confident about my answers was understanding that if your parents had filed any of these schedules, they would definitely know about it! These aren't forms that get filed accidentally - they're specifically for people with rental income, significant investments, itemized deductions over a certain threshold, etc. If your dad says they just had regular W-2 income, you can trust that. It's awesome that you took the time to ask questions here instead of just guessing. The FAFSA can be overwhelming enough without the added stress of mysterious tax forms! Sounds like you've got everything figured out now. Good luck with the rest of your application!

Hi Mason! I'm new to this community but wanted to share my experience since I literally just finished my FAFSA last week and had this exact same confusion! The tax schedule questions are honestly so intimidating when you're doing this for the first time. From everything I've learned (and from all the great advice in this thread), those schedules are really just for families with more complex tax situations. Since your dad confirmed they only had W-2 income and took the standard deduction, you're absolutely safe entering $0 for all those schedule fields. What helped me get over my anxiety about this was realizing that the FAFSA has to ask about every possible type of income to be comprehensive, but that doesn't mean every family will have something to report for each category. Most families with straightforward jobs and standard deductions won't need these additional schedules at all. You're being so smart by asking these questions and double-checking with your parents instead of just guessing. That's exactly the right approach! Don't stress too much - it sounds like you've got everything you need to complete your FAFSA successfully. Good luck with your application!

Hey Mason! I'm new to this community but wanted to jump in because I just went through this exact same process a few months ago and totally understand your confusion! The tax schedule questions on the FAFSA are definitely one of the most intimidating parts for first-time filers. From reading through this thread, it sounds like you've gotten some really solid advice and confirmation from your dad that your family only had W-2 income and took the standard deduction. That means you're absolutely correct to enter $0 for all those schedule fields (A, B, D, E, and H). What really helped me when I was in your shoes was understanding that these schedules are essentially "bonus forms" that only get filed when families have specific types of income or deductions that go beyond the basics. Think of it this way - if your parents' taxes were simple enough that they could file them without needing an accountant or dealing with complex investments, rental properties, or business income, then they probably didn't need any of these additional schedules. You're being incredibly responsible by asking questions and double-checking everything instead of just guessing. That's exactly the approach that will set you up for success with your FAFSA! Don't worry about your financial aid chances - accuracy is what matters most, not having a complicated financial situation. You've got this!