FAFSA asking for my 2021 tax info when separated but not divorced - was unemployed and didn't file

You should only report YOUR information, not your ex's. Since you were separated (even if not legally divorced) and didn't file taxes, you can select the option that indicates you 'Will not file' or 'Not required to file' depending on the exact wording on the form. For any income questions, enter '0' if you truly had no income. The FAFSA will likely require you to submit verification of non-filing which you can request from the IRS using Form 4506-T. This just confirms you weren't required to file that year. Don't worry about whether your ex claimed you as a dependent - that's his tax situation, not yours. Your FAFSA should reflect your personal financial situation only.

i went thru something kinda similar except i was officially divorced by then. the fafsa people are SUPER strict about making sure dates match up exactly. if u were still legally married in 2021 even if separated they might actually want both incomes?? the whole system is designed for traditional families and its sooooo frustrating when your situation doesnt fit in their little boxes!!!

I've helped several students through similar situations. Here's what you need to know: 1. Your marital status that matters is the one ON THE DAY you submit the FAFSA, not the tax year they're asking about. 2. If you're divorced or separated NOW when filling out the form, you only report YOUR info, not your ex's - regardless of how you filed in 2021. 3. Since you didn't file taxes in 2021, select "Will not file" and enter zeros where appropriate. 4. The FAFSA will likely flag you for verification. You'll need to get a "Verification of Non-filing Letter" from the IRS (use Form 4506-T). 5. If your ex claimed you as a dependent in 2021, it doesn't matter for your FAFSA now, as long as you're not currently his dependent. Don't panic - this is a common situation and there's a clear process for handling it.

the fafsa is the absolute worst when ur situation isnt cookie-cutter perfect!!!! i remember i spent like 3 weeks trying to figure out how to report my stepmoms income and almost missed the priority deadline because their instructions were so confusing

I faced an IDENTICAL situation last year. I was separated in 2021 (divorce finalized in 2022) and didn't file taxes because I had no income. I called the Federal Student Aid helpline like 6 TIMES and got disconnected or was on hold for hours each time. It was beyond frustrating. Finally, I discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual FSA agent in less than 20 minutes. They confirmed I should put zeros for my income and select the "will not file" option, and that I needed to get a Verification of Non-filing Letter from the IRS. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent also told me that if you're separated and maintaining separate households (even without legal documentation), you can consider yourself "separated" for FAFSA purposes and only report your own info.

are u sure u didnt have ANY income in 2021? like not even unemployment benefits or cash jobs? cause they can check that stuff and if theres any discrepancy theyll flag ur application and delay everything. happened to my roommate last year and she had to wait like extra 2 months for her aid to process

Yes, you should report ALL income, even if it was below the filing threshold. There's a difference between "didn't file because I wasn't required to" and "had zero income." If you made less than $400 in self-employment income, you weren't required to file a tax return, but you should still report that amount on your FAFSA. Be honest about the small amount of income from selling crafts. When you get your Verification of Non-filing Letter, you'll also want to provide a signed statement explaining your situation - that you were separated (though not legally divorced), lived separately from your spouse, had minimal income from selling crafts, and weren't required to file taxes. Transparency is always the best approach with financial aid.

this whole system makes me so angry!!! why do they make it so complicated?? its like they WANT to deny people financial aid by creating all these impossible hoops to jump through...