How to Answer FAFSA Question #83: Parent’s Eligibility for 1040A or 1040EZ

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Why are they asking this information?

Similar to the answer to FAFSA Question 35, this question is asked to determine if your parents are/were eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ by examining the following factors:

• Make less than $100,000
• Do not itemize deductions
• Do not receive income from a business or farm
• Do not receive self-employment income or alimony
• Are not required to file Schedule D for capital gains

How to answer this question / fill out this section

You will select “Yes” if it is determined that your parents could have filed either the 1040A or 1040EZ, even if they hadn’t, based on the above criteria. The general differences between the use of the 1040, the 1040A, and the 1040EZ has to do with the amount of information within the tax return. The 1040A and 1040EZ help to simplify filing your tax return.

You will select "No" if it is determined that they were not eligible to file either of these forms.