Married filing separately versus joint?

[mellantro]

Hi all, dumb question ahead:

If you file separately does your spouse's income count toward your estimated student contribution?

My spouse makes 40-50K, and I made 13K post college graduation last year so far as a research tech (w/ 13K this year). My parents don't have much money, but since I was in college last year, they claimed me as a dependent pre-getting married.

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[mellantro]

bump..HELP! (please? 🙂 )

 

[dsblaha]

I am no expert but from what I have heard it does not make a difference as far as financial aid is concerned. You will get more financial aid if you are married or have children but they take into account how much your wife makes. How you file your taxes does not matter.

 

[raptor5]

Correct it does not matter how you file because when filling out the fasfa if you tell them you are married they then ask for spousal income.

 

[kim.]

I don't think it makes a difference how you file..

Check out this google group for more help!
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&group=soc.college.financial-aid