How AI Legalese Decoder Can Simplify the Process of Amending Taxes for University Requirements
- November 16, 2023
- Posted by: legaleseblogger
- Category: Related News
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Challenges with Financial Aid and Taxes: How AI Legalese Decoder can Help
Introduction
I am reaching out for guidance regarding a financial aid issue that my family is currently facing, and I am hoping that someone with experience in this area can offer some assistance.
Background
I am 25 years old and attended college on a full scholarship, graduating in 2020. I come from a family of six siblings from my mother and stepfather, who legally married in New York in 2012. However, they separated in 2018 and have recently reconciled in 2023.
Current Situation
My 18-year-old sister is in her first year of college, and she did not receive many scholarships. As a result, we anticipated a balance of approximately 3k, which she agreed to pay half of, with the family covering the rest. However, the university delayed assigning her work-study, and she received a letter stating that there was an issue with her financial aid and that she needed to visit the financial aid office.
Financial aid informed us that our parents need to amend their taxes, as my stepfather filed as head of household and my mother filed as single. These filings were from the time when they were separated, and although there was no legal separation in our state, they resided in different households during that period. Despite my father providing the necessary documentation, including a letter of separation with dates and an explanation of the separation, the office is demanding that they amend their taxes, even though doing so would invalidate the original filings.
Consequences
As a result of this issue, my sister’s account has been put on hold, preventing her from registering for classes. Additionally, her financial aid is no longer visible in the portal, and the term bill now shows that she owes 16k for the semester.
How AI Legalese Decoder Can Help
AI Legalese Decoder can aid in this situation by providing legal interpretation and guidance. It can assist in generating the required documentation and legal letters to support the family’s case. Additionally, it has the ability to review tax documents and provide insights on whether there are alternative solutions that can be pursued to resolve the issue with the financial aid office.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the current financial aid and tax-related issue has put my sister’s education at risk, and we are in need of assistance to navigate this complex situation. The AI Legalese Decoder has the potential to provide invaluable support in addressing the legal and financial aspects of this matter, ultimately helping us to find a resolution and secure my sister’s educational future.
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>No, you may not file as head of household because you weren’t **legally separated** from your spouse or considered unmarried at the end of the tax year.
https://www.irs.gov/faqs/filing-requirements-status-dependents/filing-status
>Generally, taxpayers are considered to be unmarried for the entire year if, on the last day of the tax year, they were:
>ÔÇó Legally separated from their spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree. **State law governs whether taxpayers are married or legally separated under a divorce or separate maintenance decree.**
https://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/4491_filing_status.pdf
They should have been MFS
Amending taxes is not complicated and is not expensive (there’s no fee attached to amending). If the taxes change, then you’ll have to weigh that cost against the financial aid.
Either you amend or you don’t get the financial aid. Doesn’t seem that complicated.
Yeah it was illegal for them to file head of household and single. Perhaps they committed fraud doing this instead of filing married filing separate. But most likely it rad just not then understanding the tax filing. If they are legally married- separated or not they either file one return as joint or file two separate returns as married separately.
Just have them file the amended return now. They have the tax returns with all the numbers. Just file an amended return. It is easy. Free. I think you can file up to 3 for any given year? One year I had to file 2 thanks to the never ending forms arriving after they were due.
Better to do it now on their own before the IRS realizes and adds penalties to whatever they might owe with the new filing status.
Your father can’t file head of household because he’s still married. Your parents need to amend and file married filing separately. Unless they want to get audited by the IRS?
the mother wasn’t legally single, yet put single for tax purposes …given that they allegedly “separated” for 5 years but didn’t not go through a divorce , leads me to think they wanted to both the financial/ legal benefits of being married and single at the same time . You can’t have it both ways
Thanks so much all. I appreciate this!
So what IÔÇÖm gathering is that they should go see their tax preparer regardless. TheyÔÇÖre resistant to an amendment mostly because they werenÔÇÖt even told what to amend, just that it needed to happen.
To clarify a bit more for some, they did indeed reside in separate households with different addresses (shown on their tax forms too) and each had children with them. It was a harsh situation for us all, I failed damn near all my finals that semester from the stress. Due to the nature of the situation, I do believe they were considered unmarried (there was even a temp restraining order) but I donÔÇÖt know for sure.
[Page B-12 on IRS Publication 4012](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4012.pdf) is a good resource.
If your parents were married, and not legally separated or under a divorce or separate maintenance
decree on the last day of the year, then neither parent can file Single, as you can see from that chart. One parent *may* be able to file HoH, and the other files MFS. I would say the Financial aid office is correct in finding an error.
And a note about strategy – while I would recommend re-filing anyway (I’m not a tax pro, just a VITA volunteer), if you want to stick by this Single filing (which I would still argue is wrong), you can always file how the Financial aid wants you to, then re-re-file the original way once you clear things up with the Financial aid office.
The step-dad may be okay with the HOH status but mom can not file as single, her status would be MFS. A sit down with a qualified CPA or Enrolled Agent tax preparer is in order.
ItÔÇÖs probably because FAFSA is looking at the prior prior year taxes (2021 for 23-24 FAFSA). They donÔÇÖt need to amend if that was their filing status in 2021.
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