Tax problems? I lost my residency. please help. I don't understand.?

Question

I am 18, and living in arizona with roomates in high school, and WAS eligible for arizona residency for college. My mom lives a few hours away, and my dad lives in california. My dad claimed me on his taxes without telling me, and now I have lost my residency. And because now I will have to be pay out of state for college, which is almost three times as expensive, I am also ineligible to apply for finacial aid, my dad makes way too much. How can I get back my residency? Otherwise I won't be able to pay for school. I have been on my own for years, and am furious that my dad has pulled this on me. Is there anything I can do? Please. I am so upset. I need those scholarships.

Answer 1

If you are 18 and did not file to be emancipated, your dad has every right to claim you as a dependent, particularly if he pays child support, which I would imagine this is about. (Living on your own "for years" has nothing to do with it.)

If you graduated from an Arizona high school, you should be considered a resident of Arizona for the purposes of college tuition, regardless where your dad lives.

Your dad claiming you on his taxes has no impact on your residency. That's not how it works.

I'm not sure where you're getting this information, but it is not accurate. Apply to school in Arizona as a state resident. Submit your Arizona high school transcripts. Your mother living in the state further strengthens this position.

Have you filed a FAFSA? How did you find out your dad filed you as a dependent? Have you applied for admission to college? Have you spoken to a financial aid advisor? Do you know you can file an addendum to your FAFSA given these circumstances and be eligible for aid?

You need to sit down for a face-to-face with a professional who knows what she's talking about. You're jumping to conclusions based on false premises. Stop all that and start over with some good, solid information.

It will all work out.

Answer 2

First of all, you should be proud of yourself for being out on your own outside the "family home".  I don't know what your relationship is with your father, but I would have to think that he is fraudulently claiming you as a dependent on his taxes if you live outside his home, much less another state and have proof by either a drivers license, work history, etc. to show that you don't live with him and that you provide your own support.  I know that's harsh to even bring up to your dad, but then a compromise is for him to pay for all of your college expenses...at least that's my opinion.

Answer 3

Have you contacted the Arizona college that you want to attend?  You physically live and are educated in Arizona and you are going to high school there to prove that you are a resident.

I lived in CA, my son wanted to attend a university in NM, so half way through his junior year of high school.......I let him go live with grandma in NM.......due to his birth date he was over 18 when he graduated high school in NM.

He had dual residency.........Me, his parent in CA he could have CA in state tuition.......as he was claimed on my CA state taxes.......or by him attending high school in NM he could have NM in state tuition.........He chose NM.

Just think of some kids you parents live in a foreign country...and also there are a number of families where the parents live in another state.  As long as the student lives in a state for a certain number of weeks or months what ever it takes to be that states resident.

Also by being over 18 you are an adult........if you have lived the correct number of months to be a resident of AZ.......there is no problem of AZ in state tuition........or applying for scholarships or grants.