College Financial Help for Married Students?

I got married in 2008. This makes me an independent student for every year that I apply for, past and present.


So question 39 is seriously pissing me off.
Because I don't understand if I'm supposed to enter my 2007 Spouse's income or my 2008 Spouse's income?

How much did your spouse earn from working (wages, salaries, tips, combat pay, etc.) in 2007 (question 39)?


Are they talking about my 2007 spouse (who is non existent)??? Or my 2008 spouse? Cause I could have married one guy in 07 and another in 08... and had 2 totally different husbands with different incomes. then whose income would I use?


What I'm really getting at here, is:

Is someone responsible for your education before you married them?

Theoretically, I might not have known my husband in 2007! SO... must I enter his tax info?

Please help me out! My financial aid office has been closed ALL week and classes start next week. I really need to get this in. I don't want to submit false info.

Yes, you must enter his tax info for 2007. Since you are married today, his info must go on the fafsa.

Yes, even if you weren't married during that year and even if you didn't file your taxes together. You will need to "combine" the two amounts when it asks for your "Adjusted Gross Income" since I'm sure you didn't file together. You will also have to combine both of your Exemption amounts and the line about your Tax liability.

Example: If he claimed 1 exemption in 2007 and you claimed 2 exemptions in 2007, then you would enter 3 on your fafsa.

If his 2007 tax amount was 1,500 and yours was 200 then you would enter 1,700 on your fafsa.

If your 2007 Adjusted Gross Income was 12,004 and his was 42,145 then you would enter 54,149 on your fafsa.

You will have to do this again with your 2008 income on the 2009-2010 fafsa if you do not decide to file a joint return for 08.