Need advice on FAFSA dependency situation - can I report stepmother's tax issues?

As someone who works in college financial aid, you have a few options here that don't involve immediately reporting your stepmother. First, you can request a "dependency override" from your college's financial aid office. While parental refusal to provide information isn't normally sufficient grounds, you can explain the unique circumstances including the fact that your stepmother hasn't filed taxes. Bring documentation showing you've attempted to complete the FAFSA properly. Second, you could apply for "professional judgment" from the financial aid office. This allows them to make adjustments based on special circumstances. Be prepared to provide documentation about your situation. Third, you can file the FAFSA with just your father's information and indicate that you cannot provide stepmother information. This will make your FAFSA incomplete, but you can then work directly with your school's financial aid office to explain the situation.

I went through something similar with my stepdad who had some tax issues. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me understand my FAFSA dependency options without getting my family in trouble. They analyzed my specific situation and explained exactly what I needed to do for my financial aid application. Basically, they showed me how to request special consideration from my college's financial aid office without needing to complete the parent information section. They also helped me draft the explanation letter I needed to send to the financial aid office. Saved me so much stress and my first semester starts next month!

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai for myself. I was super skeptical (as you saw in my previous comment), but it actually was helpful! I uploaded my partial FAFSA and explained my situation with my stepmom refusing to provide information. The analysis showed me that I qualified for something called "special circumstances provision" in the Higher Education Act. I printed out their explanation and documentation guide and took it to my financial aid counselor yesterday. They were impressed I came so prepared and are processing my aid package without needing my stepmom's information! Definitely saved me from having to take a gap year or worse, report family members to the IRS. Now I can start classes in the fall without all that drama.

If you're struggling to get your FAFSA completed because of family tax issues, you might want to look into Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation and needed to talk directly to the IRS about dependency verification options, but couldn't get through on the phone for weeks. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS representative in under 30 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS rep explained that there are specific provisions for students whose parents have unfiled taxes. They walked me through filing a special form that let me complete my financial aid application without having to report anyone. Totally saved my college plans!

I'm back to eat my words about Claimyr being fishy. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I was desperate about my own FAFSA situation with my dad's unfiled taxes. I got through to the IRS in about 45 minutes (after trying for WEEKS on my own). The IRS agent explained that while they couldn't directly approve my FAFSA without parent info, they provided me an official letter confirming my father's tax filing status situation that my school's financial aid office accepted for a professional judgment review. My financial aid package was approved yesterday with unsubsidized loans and some grants. Not perfect but WAY better than nothing, and I didn't have to report anyone. Sorry for doubting!

Another option worth considering is looking into whether you might qualify as an independent student. You mentioned being engaged - if you get married before filing your FAFSA, you automatically qualify as independent and won't need parent information at all. Other qualifications for independent status: - Being 24 or older - Having children you support - Being a veteran - Being in graduate school - Being an orphan/ward of the court/in foster care after age 13 - Being legally emancipated - Being homeless or at risk of homelessness

Have you considered community college? I was in a similar bind with FAFSA issues and started at community college where tuition was low enough that I could pay out of pocket while working part-time. Most community colleges have transfer agreements with state universities, so after two years, I transferred to finish my bachelor's degree. By then I was 22, closer to being considered independent for FAFSA purposes.