CSS Profile Question (with divorced parents)

<p>I'm filling out PROFILE, and some questions ask about your parents' adjusted gross income, tax income, etc. on 1040 forms. Well my parents filed their taxes jointly, so is it best that I should just put my mother's agi, tax income, etc (even thought the numbers will not be exactly correct, but a okay estimate) or should I enter my both my parents' agi and tax income, despite the fact they are not together?</p>

<p>Any comment will be truly appreciated!! Thanks :]]</p>

<p>I’m sure someone else will verify this.</p>

<p>If your parents are divcorced…you will put your custodial parents info on the Profile (in your case, your mom). That would mean figuring out HER tax, income info, yes. You should be able to get exact numbers for at least the income part by looking at your mom’s W-2 forms.</p>

<p>If the schoo requires the non-custodial profile, your non-custodial parent would put his (your dad) info on the non custodial parent form.</p>

<p>^^^</p>

<p>Yes…and if your dad pays spousal support and/or child support for you and sibling(s), then that gets included somewhere, too.</p>

<p>Some schools require that the NCP (your dad) will have to supply income/asset info as well.</p>

<p>What schools are you applying to? Has your dad said whether he will help pay?</p>

<p>In addition to your dad helping to pay…has your mom indicated how much she can help you?</p>

<p>Really…the family contribution is not as important as what your PARENTS say they are able to contribute. If it’s more than the college’s computed contribution…you’re good to go. If it’s less than the college computes, you need to figure out where the money is going to come from to cover the difference.</p>

<p>So please find out how much your parents are GOING to be able to contribute.</p>

<p>Sorry for the late reply. </p>

<p>Thanks for the advice!! </p>

<p>My mom said she’ll try to contribute as much as you could. My dad, well, not so much…</p>

<p>*
My mom said she’ll try to contribute as much as you could. *</p>

<p>???</p>

<p>What does that mean? Can she give you a rough estimate? $5k per year? $10k per year? More? Less? </p>

<p>You need some clarification about how much each parent will contribute. It will be too difficult for you to determine whether a school is affordable if you just have vague answers like, “I’ll contribute what I can.” That can be $10,000 or it can mean $100.</p>