I am an international student from India who wants to transfer into the junior year of an american university. I want to apply for institutional aid using the CSS Profile. On the profile there are questions asking for financial details and tax reutrns. My parents are concerned that if I fill out the form, the tax return and assets information will be shared with other agencies and my parents will land into trouble with the income tax authorities. So, I want to know how the information furnished on the CSS profile is used and with what all organizations is it shared. Is my parent’s concern reasonable or should I fill out the CSS profile without any hesitation?
The information isn’t “shared” with anyone. Each college’s financial aid office uses the information you provide to determine your eligibility for assistance.
However, if the school later discovers that you submitted false information in order to obtain financial aid, you could be prosecuted (in the U.S.) for criminal fraud.
IF you get money fraudulently not only will you be subject to criminal prosecution in the US (and probabl be deported) you will get kicked out of school, and will have to repay the monies you fraudulently received.
If your parents are us citizens /permanent residents they are expected to file taxes even if they are not living in the US. If they haven’t file US income taxes and they are suppose to, it is unlikely that you will get aid.
In addition the school asks for official signed documents of bank records, income from employers etc.
If your parents have been dishonest regarding their taxes, they should be concerned about THAT.
And they need to be wholy honest on the Profile form…no fudging data.
The schools do not share data with anyone else. But your parent tax info will need to align with their actual tax filings. Numbers will need to be the same.
And some schools do as for the previous year returns as well.