<p>Hi, Im new here!
my father does not file US taxes, but has a US citizenship (me too). Should he file US Taxes, or should he just use Peruvian tax returns both for the CSS as for the FAFSA? (peru is the country I live in)</p>
<p>Also, If I plan to defer enrollment in the university I get in.... should I even bother applying for financial aid?
I know that I have to re-apply every year, and the CSS profile COSTS money(what kind of genius at collegeboard charges for FINANCIAL AID, anyway??)
the 2nd question is rather urgent...
thank you for your answers in advance! :)</p>
<p>If you are applying this year, you have to apply for financial aid this year. Once you get in and get (or don't get) a financial aid package, that is when you ask to defer enrollment for a year. And of course you will have to file for financial aid for the year you actually start. If you don't file for financial aid with your initial application, you won't be awarded any aid so you probably wouldn't be able to attend this year if you decide not to defer enrollment. And, there are a number of schools out there that won't ever give you any aid unless you apply for it when you first apply for admission.</p>
<p>As a US citizen resident abroad, your father should be filing a US income tax return every year. In addition to the IRS Form 1040 (regular tax return) he should file Form 2555 for the Foreign Income Exclusion. Chances are that his Peruvian income is low enough that it is fully excluded (the income exclusion for 2007 was $85,700.00) so he may have decided not to bother with the paperwork. If so, tell him that it's time to bring his tax records up to date. These forms aren't that bad. I filed them for years when Happydad, Happykid, and I were in Venezuela. All the tax stuff is on the web now at Internal</a> Revenue Service </p>
<p>Just exactly how you should handle the Peruvian income for the FAFSA and Profile, I don't know. You may want to pay a visit to the EducationUSA office closest to you. I used to work with the people at their office in Caracas so I'm certain that the advisors there will have the answers for you - or if they don't, they'll know how to help you find the answers.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income. This means that income received is taxable regardless of where in the world it is received from.</p></li>
<li><p>happymom1 is correct that there is an exclusion for foreign income. However, this exclusion only applies to earned income. Income other than from work, such as interest or capital gains, is not excluded.</p></li>
<li><p>Worse, you have to actually file the tax return in question for the foreign earned income to be excluded from being taxed by the US.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>To return to the original question, tax laws vary from country to country. In particular, each country defines income differently. So the amount of income shown on a Peruvian tax return may not equal the amount of income which should be shown on a US tax return for the same year.</p>
<p>However, they have to have some way of dealing with the situation. Otherwise, they couldn't verify the income of an international student who is not a US citizen. There's all kinds of evidence that can be used to verify income. The question is which types of evidence the people who administer the Profile will accept. That is something you'd have to ask them.</p>
<p>HM... to sum up what I have to do: My father SHOULD pay US taxes, and he must spend lots of money for financial aid even if I´m going to defer my admission? Oops. Kinda complicated with the 2nd one. Well, thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Why do you feel that you must apply this year, and that you must defer enrollment? Would it not make more sense to just wait and apply next year is you aren't planning to attend until then?</p>
<p>That would allow you an extra year to get the financial stuff in order, and you wouldn't have to pay anything to CSS Profile until then.</p>