<p>6 months in during the 2009 year by dad lost his job and now collects unemployment. However, because he did use to make a substantial amount of money, last years tax returns show a somewhat high gross income and so the EFC number is not as low as it is now. Right now, with a family of four and my brother in college as well, my dad receives unemployment of $24,000 and my mother does not work. According to Fafsa4Caster, and using the tax returns from last year, if I were to go to a $52,000 private school I would still have to pay $37,000. Obviously, that would be impossible. So does Fafsa use the 2009-2010 or 2010-2011 tax returns? Do they even take the 2010-2011 projected income into consideration?</p>
<p>The CSS Profile provides room at the end to explain any special conditions. You should fully explain the situation. Also, it also asks for projected income fro 2011.</p>
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<p>Tax returns are for the CALENDAR year beginning Jan 1, not the school year.</p>
<p>For the 2009-2010 FAFSA (which is for the school year that ENDED in June 2010) the tax year would have been the 2008 taxes.</p>
<p>For the 2010-2011 FAFSA (which is for the current school year) the tax year would have been 2009.</p>
<p>For the 2011-2012 FAFSA (which is the one for the school year beginning late summer early fall 2011…the coming year), it’s the 2010 tax year.</p>