<p>Okay so I began filling out my FAFSA/PROFILE yesterday and came across a slight problem. We're asked to include our tax reports for 2013 (which we haven't done yet) or estimate using what we have from 2012 and update later. </p>
<p>Here's the problem: We don't HAVE anything filed from 2012! My dad was unemployed until 2013 (self-employed now), so he had 0 income during that time, and we live overseas. </p>
<p>What do I do in this situation? My first college deadline for the PROFILE is Jan 15th.</p>
<p>I would suggest you estimate using data available to you, mostly your parents’ 2013 income.</p>
<p>We had no income. That’s the only “data” we have.</p>
<p>Could I really just put in “0” for all the PROFILE tax questions?</p>
<p>The CSS profile is asking for your family’s 2013 income, either accurate data, or estimate. For estimate, since your 2012 year was very different from your 2013, you do not need to use it. You need to estimate your 2013 solely based on what happened in 2013. </p>
<p>My 2 cents.</p>
<p>You had no income in 2013? You said your Dad was self-employed in 2013. Estimate 2013 as best as you can with whatever documents you have.</p>
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<p>^ it’s the self employment income from 2013 that you want to estimate. The closer to what it will actually be, the better, and the sooner he files his taxes, the better.</p>
<p>As well, you will be expected to account for how you were able to live/pay bills with no income.</p>
<p>“and we live overseas.”</p>
<p>If your parents are US citizens or legal permanent residents, it is possible that much of your family income will be excluded from the US taxes because of the foreign income exclusions. You need to spend some time at [Internal</a> Revenue Service](<a href=“http://www.irs.gov%5DInternal”>http://www.irs.gov) and read up on that issue.</p>
<p>Yes, it will delay your filing a draft of the FAFSA, but it will give you a much better estimate of the numbers.</p>