My parents are married and filed separately; mother did 1040A, father 1040. How am I supposed to complete the CSS Profile? At least with the FAFSA I could choose one and reasonably figure out what needed to be placed where.
There’s a Profile question that asks about the tax filing status of the parents. Answer the question as it applies to your parents, and follow on questions and answers should reflect that filing status.
(On the 2017-2018 Profile the parent filing status was question PI-095.)
Yes, but there is only one question asking which federal income tax return was filed, and as I said, they filed different returns.
Is there a question asking about the parents’ tax filing status for the 2016 tax year? If so, how did you answer it?
Married parents filing separate tax returns is not an unusual circumstance. Profile is set up to deal with this. If you aren’t getting the correct prompts for your situation, you’ve done something wrong.
Married and filed separately, as I said… nothing about differences between tax forms filed.
Please tell us which specific Profile question number you first encountering a problem with, and tell us what the exact wording of the question is.
Ok, I think I see what you are talking about. When indicating that parents filed separately, there is only one choice for the type of return that was filed, even though (as in your case) parents filing separately can complete different types of returns (i.e. 1040 and 1040A, as is the case here). It seems to be a problem with the way the app was written.
Here’s what I suggest: contact a Profile customer service rep, and explain your situation and what is happening. Ask what you should do. If you can’t get a good answer or no resolution is suggested, choose 1040 for the tax return type filed. The tax form line numbers won’t match up for your mother who filed a 1040A, but all the information she put on her 1040A does have a corresponding line on the 1040, so you will be able to enter all the information that is asked for.
As Belknap noted, select the 1040. However, rather than call CB’s customer service, instead use the ‘Special Circumstances’ page (located at the end of the Profile just before the Submit Application page) and select the checkbox marked ‘Other’ to explain the 1040/1040A dilemma. That will directly inform the financial aid offices of your schools about the issue.
Would you suggest the same answer for parents using the “married filling separately” option where one parent is a (non us citizen/ non - resident ) and is filing income tax in a foreign country & the other parent is a us citizen and filing a 1040 ? Thanks