Need help understanding how to amend tax return for FAFSA funding - parents filed incorrectly as HOH

This is unfortunately a common mistake that can cause serious issues. Both parents claiming HOH while living at the same address is incorrect - HOH is specifically for unmarried individuals who pay more than half the cost of keeping up a home for a qualifying person. To amend, they'll need to file Form 1040-X for each of their returns. As for which filing status to choose, married filing jointly is typically more beneficial tax-wise than married filing separately, especially with 6 dependents. MFJ often provides better tax brackets, higher standard deduction, and access to certain credits that MFS doesn't allow. The amendment process involves completing Form 1040-X showing the original amounts, the correct amounts, and explaining the changes. They'll need to submit supporting documents like a corrected 1040 with the proper filing status. Given the complexity, I'd recommend they work with a reputable tax professional for this.

I went through almost exactly the same situation with my parents' taxes last year! Totally understand the FAFSA frustration. After helping my mom and dad fix their HOH mistake, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which is SUPER helpful for these exact situations. It basically analyzes tax documents, explains what's wrong, and gives step-by-step guidance on fixing tax mistakes. For amendments especially, it saved us so much headache by showing exactly what forms were needed and how to fill them out correctly. They guided us through the entire 1040-X process and even helped calculate what my parents would owe after the amendment. The school's financial aid office actually recognized the amended return right away and my FAFSA went through without any more issues!

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai from the recommendation above - it was honestly exactly what we needed! I was skeptical about an online tool handling something as complicated as married filing status amendments, but wow. It immediately identified the HOH issue and explained why both parents couldn't claim this status. Then it walked us through comparing MFJ vs MFS options (turns out MFJ saved them about $4,200 compared to MFS in their situation). The step-by-step guide for filling out the 1040-X forms was super clear, and we got everything submitted last week. The financial aid office already accepted the amendment confirmation as proof for FAFSA purposes! Definitely worth checking out if you're in a similar situation.

If getting through to the IRS is part of the challenge here (which it usually is with amendments), I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Last year I had a similar amendment situation and spent DAYS trying to get through to an IRS agent. Claimyr got me connected in about 15 minutes! Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c After submitting amendments, you'll likely have questions about processing status or need to confirm receipt. Instead of waiting on hold for hours, Claimyr basically holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. For amendment questions, speaking with an actual IRS person makes all the difference versus trying to figure it out from the website.

OK so I was the skeptic above about Claimyr and I feel like I need to eat my words. I tried it yesterday out of desperation after our amendment had been processing for weeks with no updates. I was literally connected to an IRS agent in 20 minutes when I had previously been trying for DAYS. The agent confirmed our amendment was received and gave me a specific timeframe for processing. She also gave me some tips about what documentation we should keep handy in case there are any questions. For something as stressful as tax amendments and FAFSA deadlines, being able to actually talk to someone at the IRS who could give me real answers was worth every penny. Definitely changed my mind about this service.

I'm curious - does anyone know if the parents will lose any tax benefits they received from filing as HOH? My brother is in a similar situation (though only with 2 kids) and I'm trying to figure out how bad the damage will be if he needs to amend.

Does anyone know how to find a legitimate tax preparer who won't charge an arm and a leg for amendment help? The fact that their original preparer refuses to help fix their mistake is making my blood boil!

As someone who works in financial aid administration, I want to emphasize how critical timing is here. While the amendment process can take several weeks to fully complete with the IRS, most financial aid offices will accept proof that you've submitted the amendment (like a copy of the 1040-X forms or certified mail receipt) to move forward with FAFSA processing. Make sure to contact your student's college financial aid office immediately once you submit the amendments - don't wait for IRS processing to complete. Explain the situation and ask what documentation they need to verify the corrected filing status. Many schools have procedures for exactly this type of situation since HOH filing errors are unfortunately common. Also, keep detailed records of everything - the original incorrect returns, all amendment paperwork, submission confirmations, and any correspondence with the IRS. This documentation trail will be invaluable if there are any questions down the road from either the IRS or the school's financial aid office.