So I can’t fill out my noncustodial CSS profile because my stepfather wants nothing to do with me. I visit my mom every week and everything, but he doesn’t talk to me or look at me or anything, and he refuses to even give my mom the information for the profile. So I can’t fill out the profile, but I doubt that I could get it waived just because he’s stubborn.
I just don’t know what to do about that.
Your non-custodial parent is supposed to complete the non-custodial parent form…not you.
Is your stepfather still married to your mom and living with you? If not, unless her legally adopted you, his information is not required. The noncustodial profile is to be filled out by your biological father (or if you were legally adopted, your legal parent who you do not reside with)
^^^
It sounds like OP’s custodial parent is her father, and her mother (NCP) is married to a man who will not provide the required information for the NCP Profile form.
Your mother needs to do this for you. She should have the 2015 tax information because she signed it too. She should know the bank balances.
I agree, unless the mom and step-dad filed separately and/or they maintain separate bank accounts.
Well, my mother (the NCP) and I are filling it out together just if she has any questions for me, but she’s supplying the information. The problem is that her husband won’t provide his end of the information or let us see the tax returns because he knows we’re using it for this.
Unfortunately, if she can’t provide the information, most of the schools that require CSS will not give you need based financial aid. If you can’t afford to be full pay, you won’t be able to go to those schools.
You should have FAFSA only schools as back up.
Does your mom and her H file taxes separately? If not, then why can’t she see her own tax records?
If they file jointly, then have her make a FAFSA account and have her electronically upload the 2015 info. Step dad’s info would upload, I think. ( I know she’s the NCP, she’d make a FAFSA account for herself as if she’s going to college…and then if the info uploads, she’d have the info to fill out CSS NCP, I think)
What about getting a copy of the tax return directly from the IRS?
If your mom and her husband file jointly…your mom should have access to the tax document because SHE also signed it.
This is something your mom will need to deal with.
If it can’t be resolved…look carefully at your list…and make sure there are schools that are FAFSA only. OR do NOT require the non-custodial form if they use the Profile.
She can order a tax transcript, but she might need more information than is on that document. There are control issues that may be more than the mother or the OP can safely deal with. The OP lives with his father for a reason and he’s said his stepfather doesn’t like him.
It may be that FAFSA only schools are what it has to be.
OP, what are the Profile schools you’re applying to? Maybe people here have experience with the financial aid offices at some and can offer advice specific to specific schools. (It’s a longshot but your situation stinks…it would be nice to help you find a way around this supposed adult’s arrogance.)
The mom ordering a tax transcript would likely take longer than simply having her fill out a FAFSA for herself, as if she were going to go to college. She can just put some local CC as a school recipient.
Then she can use IRS retrieval tool to auto populate what was on their filed taxes…as long as they filed jointly.
I would think this would only take a day or two.
Just ask your mother if this means they will not provide any money for college anyway, the end result is the same. One assumes the FA package would leave them with an EFC that your stepdad doesn't have to contribute to. Have you ever had a discussion about paying for college with both parents?
I am so sorry, my ex won’t fill it out either so our CSS profile won’t be complete & will be kicked out so we will only get merit aide & aide from FASFA and pray it will be enough. These deadbeat dads really screw up their kids.
@cloudysmom I hope your DD has applied to a couple of safeties schools that you know FOR SURE are affordable because all costs are covered.
This is not a one time deal. Every year this will have to be dealt with. I’d lean toward FASFA only schools.
@mom2collegekids. She has but they are still more than we can do w/ out FASFA so hope at least we get something decent from FASFA. In state school,& she got a merit scholarship from Roanoke that puts it near in state. She worked her but off for a 4.3 gpa & it kills me she might not go to a better school like she wants because of him.
it is not necessarily a deadbeat dad issue. You have plenty of intact families that see their EFC can’t or won’t pay it (there are plenty of threads from students talking about their parents refusal to pay)
You can still ask him to fill out the information on the non-custodial profile.
Remind him that the information is not shared with you and supplying the information does not obligate him to pay.
However, if he supplies the information, you will ultimately be responsible for paying the parent contribution (EFC) and she will get a need based package. The school does not care who pays the EFC as long as it gets paid. They will not send a letter saying that you need to pay this and your ex needs to pay that.
The challenge is because you know that he will not pay, what is your plan for paying the EFC because it would all be on you. Do you plan on taking loans?