...do i need my stepfather's tax returns? Alright, I'm 20 years old and I'm applying for financial aid. I haven't lived with my parents since my senior year in high school (2 years). Why do i have to continue using my parents information. If anything maybe my mother, but why my step-father. He doesn't carry me on his taxes or anything and i don't have their last name. I don't see how his information is relevant to my financial aid. I have been living with my grandmother for those 2 years and she's on a fixed income. My parents pay for NOTHING!!! They also live 2 states away. Is there anyway i can work around using my stepfathers tax returns, or BOTH of them.