Anna’s mother suggests changing the Parent’s Gross Income from $97,000 to $57,000 and re-submitting the FAFSA. Why is this a bad idea? ?

Answer 1

When the information on a FAFSA is changed to that extent, the school will generally ask to see the actual tax transcript from the IRS.  If the income was actually $97K, the financial aid office will correct it back to that - so what's the point?

Answer 2

Your parents will go to prison and they'll have to pay every penny that was paid for you to attend college, so do it, and put them in prison.

Answer 3

The agency that adminsters the FAFSA now audits people randomly because of this kind of fraud. Being audited mean submitting all kinds of documents to prove what the income is. Committing fraud in filing with a government agency is a VERY bad idea!

Answer 4

It's fraud for one thing. It will easily be caught when the college matches the tax return to the application.

Answer 5

It is called "Larceny" (Fraud).

Answer 6

Because if Anna’s mother is telling a lie, she will be subject to criminal penalties.