My mom has recently filed her 2014 tax return, so should I update it on the CSS Profile even though it asks for estimates? For example, it says “Estimate your parents’ total number of exemptions for 2014 using their 2013 IRS Form 1040, line 6d.” Can I use the 2014 IRS Form or should it still be an “estimate”?
You can’t edit your Profile. I would bet most Profile schools require the tax returns and/or the IRS Data Retrieval process. They will see the correct info when they review your parent tax return.
It actually can be edited! Not for the schools I’ve already sent it to, but for those that I haven’t sent to yet. It says here “If you need to correct or update any of your responses, do so now. Updated information will be sent only to the additional colleges or programs you listed in “Add Colleges or Programs” and will not be sent to any colleges or programs which previously received your PROFILE information.”
So now I’m struggling to find out if I still need to provide them with updates or just to stick with my original estimates. Thank you, though!
Yes, you can edit for new schools. It makes sense to update and use the correct info for any new schools.
You will need to provide final info to those schools for which you already sent the Profile. Contact each school and ask how they would like the update. Some want pen and ink changes on a copy of the profile, others want copies of all the documents and they make the changes.
Correct it for schools you’ve not sent it to yet. It’ll be correct in FAFSA so why work with two sets if numbers. Also, for schools already submitted, you can mail the college an update, but probs not necessary either way, be sure to submit tax return (H) and W-2 to all who require. Use I doc.
You only use IDOC if the school says to.
Send only what the schools ask for…but make sure you send everything they ask for.
Which varies, of course… 
What they want, when they want it, and how they want it. That was one of the worst parts of applying. Especially if you have a small business with extra paperwork and a non-custodial parent… still gives me a headache to think about it.