1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Simplifying Financial Aid for Students Act of 2018 . 2. Using data for second preceding year Section 480(a)(1)(B) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087vv(a)(1)(B) ) is amended to read as follows: (B) Notwithstanding section 478(a) and beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Simplifying Financial Aid for Students Act of 2018 , the Secretary shall provide for the use of data from the second preceding tax year when and to the extent necessary to carry out the simplification of applications (including simplification for a subset of applications) used for the estimation and determination of financial aid eligibility. Such simplification shall include the sharing of data between the Internal Revenue Service and the Department, pursuant to the consent of the taxpayer. . 3. Family contribution (a) Family contribution Section 473(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087mm(b) ) is amended— (1) by striking the subsection heading and inserting Zero family contribution ; (2) in paragraph (1), by adding or (3) after paragraph (2) ; (3) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking the paragraph heading and inserting Children of certain deceased veterans ; (B) in each of subparagraphs (B) and (C), by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as subclauses (I) and (II), respectively and adjusting the margins accordingly; (C) by redesignating subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), as clauses (i), (ii), and (iii), respectively; and (D) by striking Paragraph (1) shall and inserting the following: (A) Applicability Paragraph (1) shall ; (4) in paragraph (3)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking subparagraphs (A), (B)(i), and (C) of paragraph (2) and inserting clause (i), (ii)(I), and (iii) of subparagraph (A) ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C) of paragraph (2) and inserting clause (i), (ii)(II), and (iii) of subparagraph (A)