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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Several asked me to post my responses, so here goes.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>This was the situation of the “divorced” parents
who live together, but file separate tax returns.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I received 6 responses. 5 said to call them married
and count both incomes. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The other one said, “<font color=blue><span
style='color:blue'>You can't really label them as married (they aren't
common-law if they don't represent themselves to be married, which they aren't
doing on their tax returns and they <u>don't appear to have filled out the
FAFSA as married</u>, right?. But, if you want to get an ACCURATE picture
of this family's ability to pay for college, here is what I would do:</span></font></span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>a) include Mom and Dad in the
household size</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>b) leave the marital status as
single, using Mom as the parent, report her income in all the usual slots</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>c) take dad's 2004 AGI, subtract
7.65% for FICA, the amount of federal tax paid, the state tax allowance (you'll
need the EFC worksheet tables for this). Use the result as untaxed income
of the Mom in the EFC calculation. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>d) ignore the $150 per month child
support as either income to mom or a subtraction to income of dad.....it's all
ending up in the same pot anyway. </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=blue face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:blue'>This accounts for the fact that Dad is
there and the parents are "together", it doesn't falsely report their
marital status, and it does take into account all the allowances that
would be applied to Dad's income if they really WERE married. It even allows
you to tell your Admissions director that you DID make an adjustment to Dad's
income.” </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>They actually <u>did turn in a FAFSA showing married w/ both
incomes</u>, but my Adm director caught on to the situation during the visit
and decided they had completed the FAFSA incorrectly, so he thinks we should
have them change the way they filed it. After the responses from you and
this little tidbit of info, I am going to leave the FAFSA as they filed it and
move on.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Thanks to all who responded! It’s great to have
you all as a resource.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Jonna<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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