§1087ss. Simplified needs test

(a) Simplified application section

(1) In general

The Secretary shall develop and use an easily identifiable simplified application section as part of the common financial reporting form prescribed under section 1090(a) of this title for families described in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(2) Reduced data requirements

The simplified application form shall-

(A) in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection (b)(1) of this section, permit such family to submit only the data elements required under subsection (b)(2) of this section for the purposes of establishing eligibility for student financial aid under this part; and

(B) in the case of a family meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this section, permit such family to be treated as having an expected family contribution equal to zero for purposes of establishing such eligibility and to submit only the data elements required to make a determination under subsection (c) of this section.

(b) Simplified needs test

(1) Eligibility

An applicant is eligible to file a simplified form containing the elements required by paragraph (2) if-

(A) in the case of an applicant who is a dependent student-

(i) the student's parents file or are eligible to file a form described in paragraph (3) or certify that they are not required to file an income tax return and the student files or is eligible to file such a form or certifies that the student is not required to file an income tax return; and

(ii) the total adjusted gross income of the parents (excluding any income of the dependent student) is less than $50,000; or

(B) in the case of an applicant who is an independent student-

(i) the student (and the student's spouse, if any) files or is eligible to file a form described in paragraph (3) or certifies that the student (and the student's spouse, if any) is not required to file an income tax return; and

(ii) the adjusted gross income of the student (and the student's spouse, if any) is less than $50,000.

(2) Simplified test elements

The six elements to be used for the simplified needs analysis are-

(A) adjusted gross income,

(B) Federal taxes paid,

(C) untaxed income and benefits,

(D) the number of family members,

(E) the number of family members in postsecondary education, and

(F) an allowance (A) for State and other taxes, as defined in section 1087oo(c)(2) of this title for dependent students and in section 1087qq(b)(2) of this title for independent students with dependents other than a spouse, or (B) for State and other income taxes, as defined in section 1087pp(b)(2) of this title for independent students without dependents other than a spouse.

(3) Qualifying forms

A student or family files a form described in this subsection, or subsection (c) of this section, as the case may be, if the student or family, respectively, files-

(A) a form 1040A or 1040EZ (including any prepared or electronic version of such form) required pursuant to title 26;

(B) a form 1040 (including any prepared or electronic version of such form) required pursuant to title 26, except that such form shall be considered a qualifying form only if the student or family files such form in order to take a tax credit under section 25A of title 26, and would otherwise be eligible to file a form described in subparagraph (A); or

(C) an income tax return (including any prepared or electronic version of such return) required pursuant to the tax code of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau.

(c) Zero expected family contribution

The Secretary shall consider an applicant to have an expected family contribution equal to zero if-

(1) in the case of a dependent student-

(A) the student's parents file, or are eligible to file, a form described in subsection (b)(3) of this section, or certify that the parents are not required to file an income tax return and the student files, or is eligible to file, such a form, or certifies that the student is not required to file an income tax return; and

(B) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the parents is less than or equal to the maximum amount of income (rounded annually to the nearest thousand dollars) that may be earned in 1992 or the current year, whichever is higher, in order to claim the maximum Federal earned income credit; or

(2) in the case of an independent student with dependents other than a spouse-

(A) the student (and the student's spouse, if any) files, or is eligible to file, a form described in subsection (b)(3) of this section, or certifies that the student (and the student's spouse, if any) is not required to file an income tax return; and

(B) the sum of the adjusted gross income of the student and spouse (if appropriate) is less than or equal to the maximum amount of income (rounded annually to the nearest thousand dollars) that may be earned in 1992 or the current year, whichever is higher, in order to claim the maximum Federal earned income credit.

An individual is not required to qualify or file for the earned income credit in order to be eligible under this subsection.

(Pub. L. 89–329, title IV, §479, as added Pub. L. 99–498, title IV, §406(a), Oct. 17, 1986, 100 Stat. 1472 ; amended Pub. L. 100–50, §14(23)–(25), June 3, 1987, 101 Stat. 352 ; Pub. L. 100–369, §7(c), July 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 837 ; Pub. L. 102–26, §11, Apr. 9, 1991, 105 Stat. 129 ; Pub. L. 102–325, title IV, §471(a), July 23, 1992, 106 Stat. 604 ; Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(10)–(15), Dec. 20, 1993, 107 Stat. 2472 ; Pub. L. 105–244, title IV, §477, Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1731 .)

Amendments

1998-Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 105–244, §477(1)(A), substituted "this subsection, or subsection (c) of this section, as the case may be," for "this paragraph" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–244, §477(1)(B), struck out "or" at end.

Subsec. (b)(3)(B), (C). Pub. L. 105–244, §477(1)(C), (D), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpar. (B) as (C).

Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105–244, §477(2)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "the student's parents were not required to file an income tax return under section 6012(a)(1) of title 26; and".

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–244, §477(2)(B), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "the student (and the student's spouse, if any) was not required to file an income tax return under section 6012(a)(1) of title 26; and".

1993-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(10), inserted "of" after "(c)".

Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(i). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(11), inserted "(and the student's spouse, if any)" after "student" in two places and struck out "such" before "an income tax return".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(12), (13), substituted "six elements" for "five elements" in introductory provisions and a comma for semicolon in subpar. (E).

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(14)(A), inserted "(including any prepared or electronic version of such form)" before "required".

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(14)(B), inserted "(including any prepared or electronic version of such return)" before "required".

Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(15)(A), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "the student's parents did not file, and were not required to file, a form 1040 required pursuant to title 26; and".

Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(15)(C), inserted "in 1992 or the current year, whichever is higher," after "that may be earned".

Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(15)(B), amended subpar. (A) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (A) read as follows: "the student (and the student's spouse, if any) did not file, and was not required to file, a form 1040 required pursuant to title 26; and".

Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–208, §2(g)(15)(C), inserted "in 1992 or the current year, whichever is higher," after "that may be earned".

1992-Pub. L. 102–325 amended section generally, substituting present provisions for provisions which related to: in subsec. (a), analysis applicable to all title IV programs; in subsec. (b), elements in tests; and in subsec. (c), simplified application form.

1991-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–26 inserted before period at end ", or who file an income tax return pursuant to the tax code of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico or who are not required to file pursuant to that tax code".

1988-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–369 substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954", which for purposes of codification was translated as "title 26" thus requiring no change in text.

1987-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–50, §14(23), substituted "subsection (b) of this section" for "paragraph (2)", "families (1) who" for "families which", and "and (2) who file a form 1040A or 1040EZ pursuant to title 26, or are not required to file pursuant to such title" for "and which file a form 1040A pursuant to title 26".

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 100–50, §14(24)(A), struck out "and State" after "Federal".

Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 100–50, §14(24)(B)–(D), added par. (6).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–50, §14(25), added subsec. (c).

Effective Date of 1998 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–244 effective Oct. 7, 1998, see section 480A of Pub. L. 105–244, set out as a note under section 1087kk of this title.

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–208 effective as if included in the Higher Education Amendments of 1992, Pub. L. 102–325, except as otherwise provided, see section 5(a) of Pub. L. 103–208, set out as a note under section 1051 of this title.

Effective Date of 1992 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 102–325 applicable with respect to determinations of need under this part for award years beginning on or after July 1, 1993, see section 471(b) of Pub. L. 102–325, set out as a note under section 1087kk of this title.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–50 effective as if enacted as part of the Higher Education Amendments of 1986, Pub. L. 99–498, see section 27 of Pub. L. 100–50, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 1090 of this title.