The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks what type of tax return you filed. If you were eligible to file a short form (1040A or 1040EZ) but filed the 1040 instead, it is important to tell the processor that you were eligible to file a short form. Read below to see if you were required to file the 1040 and were therefore ineligible to file a shorter form.

YES, I was required to file a 1040 if I look on my 2007 IRS Form 1040 form and find either of the following to be true.

1) Line 43 - Taxable Income is GREATER THAN $99,999 ($100,000 or
     more).
                                                     - or -
2) Amounts other than zero appear on the following lines (see
     exceptions for lines 13, 40, and 42.)
 

Line #	Description
	Income
10	Taxable refunds/credits of local/state taxes (Oklahoma may be exception)
11	Alimony received
12	Business Income or Loss
13	Capital Gain or Loss - ONLY if Schedule D was required
14	Other Gains or Losses (Form 4797)
17	Rental Real Estate/Royalties/Partnerships/ S Corp (Schd E)
18	Farm Income (Schedule F)
21	Other Income
	Adjustments
24	Certain Business Expenses: reservists, artists, and government officials
25	Health Savings Account deduction
26	Moving Expenses
27	Half of Self-Employment Tax
28	Self-Employed SEP, SIMPLE & Qualified Plans
29	Self-Employed Health Insurance deduction
30	Penalty on early withdrawal of savings
31a	Alimony paid
35	Domestic Production Activities deduction
	Taxes & Other Credits
40	Itemized Deductions - ONLY if Schedule A was used
43	Taxable Income - ONLY if $100,000 or more
45	Alternative Minimum Tax
51	Foreign Tax Credit
54	Credits from Form 8396 or 8859
55	Other Tax Credits from Form 3800, 8801 or other
	Other Taxes
58	Self-Employment Tax
59	Social Security./Medicare Tax on Tips
60	Tax on Qualified Plans, including IRAs
62	Household Employment Taxes
	Payments
67	Excess social security and RRTA tax withheld
69	Amount Paid with Request for Extension to File
70	Other payments from Form 2439 or Form 4136 or Form 8885

If none of the above conditions apply, the tax filer was eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ but CHOSE to file a 1040 for other reasons. Therefore, the tax filer should answer YES to question 34 (student) or 78 (parent) on the 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - "...eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ?".

Note: Taxpayers who file a 1040 solely to itemize deductions (see "Notes for questions 34/78" on page 2 of FAFSA instructions) are considered to be REQUIRED to file a 1040 and INELIGIBLE for Simple Need Analysis.