Help for child who's parent refuses to do FAFSA?

Question

My sister is married to a real SOB. His soul purpose on this earth is to procreate (according to him) and women are NOTHING but baby factories. Here in lies the first part of the problem... he's avoiding doing his taxes because he defaulted on my sister's student loans SEVERAL years ago (only about $700 because he told her she couldn't go). He doesn't want to "lose" that money.
Now, they have a daughter who is starting college... now he's refusing to do the taxes so she can submit her FAFSA. She's an honor roll student, aced her SAT's, and is dead set against EVER being a baby factory in any sense of the word.
Both parents have jobs with the state, so that she can get the information online and fill out a 1040 to submit with the FAFSA, but we aren't sure if she will get in trouble or not for doing it that way.
Can she do this? or is there some CHEAP way to make the SOB do what's right? ie: turn him in for tax evasion?

She's already in college (between semesters right now) it's just he's putting every roadbock he can up. He failed to pay her housing deposit to force her to come back home to stay. For this year, he wouldn't do the FAFSA before the fall term, and she MADE him pay out of pocket for the tuition. Which has him so mad he's making her pay rent to live at home now.
It's getting bad at that house. Out of 5 kids, she's the only girl and the ONLY one that gets crapped on like this (besides my sister).
I don't care at this point if my sister gets in trouble, she deserves it if she's willing to put up with this bs.

To answer Found-1... yes my sister is a doormat. Never thought about her filing separate though. She wouldn't though... she doesn't think for herself EVER.25 yrs of mental abuse kills the thought process. He controls EVERYTHING in the household (except the kids--that's HER responsibility) including the money. She never has any.

Answer 1

Unless the parent files federal taxes, nothing is going to be accomplished.

Unfortunately there are parents, who, for whatever reason, do not support their children's desire to better themselves.

She cannot file for a professional judgment as her parents are supporting her financially and she has contact with them.

She cannot 'file their taxes for them' as that is considered tax fraud and punishable by 5-20 years imprisonment. That idea is completely ludicrous so whoever suggested that should be slapped upside their head.

The man defaulted on loans. They'll collect on them by garnishment at the very least. His credit is trashed so he's not going to be able to help this daughter get a loan.

She needs to work with the FAO at her school to see what options there are. There are ALWAYS options. It could be payments, finding a grandparent to co-sign an alternative loan, taking less classes per semester until things get sorted out.

Answer 2

You are heading out on your own, so why not really leave the nest? You don't qualify for the loans now, because you are still under Mom & Dad's umbrella. FAFSA is legitimately need based, and if your parents make enough money, you don't need FAFSA. If you don't want to get a loan on you own, and can't get any grants, you may have to settle for something less than you expect now. Maybe even start school part time, if that is all the new independent you can afford. Another option is to get some life experience first. You don't have to join the Peace Corps or military (although that could address your future college funding problem), but some version of getting out there and experiencing life before hitting the college campus can have many benefits. You may also find a job that you can tolerate for a while, that helps to pay for college. Beyond getting you out from under the aforementioned umbrella, you also get to learn more about yourself. In everything you've done in life thus far, you have always had your parents to back you up. Even if you go out and get a series of the most miserable jobs you've ever had for a year, it will not be a complete waste. When you finally get that loan/grant/whatever on your own, I guarantee that you will do everything in your power to avoid having to do one or more of the horrible jobs that you experienced. Beyond that, you will spend your college money more wisely. Why go to college for 4 years only to discover that basket weaving may be your life's passion, but it doesn't pay enough to keep you in the lifestyle to which you would like to be accustomed.

Answer 3

Ditto about turning him in for tax evasion. Just call the IRS and tell them, but that would get your sister in trouble as well.

If she moved in with another relative now, it wouldn't help her because she still would have gotten most of her support for the 2007 year from her mother and father.

Whoever said that you could just get the information is wrong. I know that they randomly (and sometimes not randomly) select people for verification, and they will ask for all of the forms. If that happens, you have to go back and admit she lied on her forms.

I'd go to her high school guidance counselor and ask exactly how she is supposed to get around this. If they won't help her at her school, go to the college she wants to get into and ask the financial aid office for help. Clearly she deserves to get into college and will be accepted at almost any place she decides to go to. With her circumstances, she could probably write a killer college essay to get financial aid with as well.

Good luck with your situation and I really hope you find somebody to help you out. If she does as well in school as you say she does, the guidance office should be more than willing to help her get through this.

Answer 4

Is your sister a doormat? Hello... she can file the family taxes just as easily as the SOB can.... and then give that information to her daugher.

If worse comes to worse, your sister can file her taxes "married, filing seperately" from Mr. Personality. Then she has completed her legal responsiblity of filing taxes... of course - she would then get to claim all those 5 little tax deducations. While Mr. Wonderful would get none. Once he gets wind of this..... he'll have their taxes fillled out (jointly, I guarantee) the next day.

PS. Your sister's student loan is her debt and her responsiblity to repay, not the SOB's.
Good luck.

Answer 5

To turn him in for not doing their taxes all you have to do is call the irs and tell them he hasn`t filed his taxes in years and has been working for the state.
They will investigate and both parents will be in trouble.
It would be ok if the child moved out and either in with a family member or into her own apartment. Then the FAFSA would
only need the childs income.

Answer 6

Tell her to talk to her guidance counselor. The guidance counselor should be able to find a way around it. Also, just as a thought, the parents do not have to file their taxes to apply for the FAFSA; you just need to have the information that would be on the tax forms.