<p>Our S self learned computer programming and over the summer was able to earn a small amount, programming a few websites. His clients were new small businesses around US. How will this factor in the CSS/PROFILE application? Does he have to register as self employed? As what he earned was small it does not appear that he has any tax liability. Any help would be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>I don’t think that CSS/Profile cares whether or not he made enough to have a tax liability. I believe that the form asks about earned income, without specifying a minimum threshold. And yes, if the form asks who his employer is/was, he would report that he is/was self-employed.</p>
<p>On the CSS Profile only the parents enter the name of their employer or indicate self-employed - this is under the parent data section. There are no questions about employer or self employment under the student data section (only a question about whether they own a business). Your son would simply enter the total amount that he earned in the “Student’s Income and Benefits (SI)” section, under the following question:</p>
<p>“Enter the income you earned from work in 2013” (SI-125G)</p>
<p>As indicated above, taxes have nothing to do with this. Also keep in mind, on the FAFSA there is allowance for student income for up to ~$6000, so any earned income up to that amount will not increase a student’s FAFSA EFC. However, there is no allowance for student income on the CSS and income is assessed at 50%. Keep in mind though that most CSS schools expect a student earnings contribution of $2000-$3000, so it’s likely that your son’s earnings would have little effect anyway (unless he earned more than an amount that is two times the amount of the schools’ student contribution expectation)</p>
<p>@Middkid86 and dukedad. Thank you for the replies. My concern is not the amount that he will report. He just tried to register to fill the application. Just registration requires him to check whether he is self employed. Registration section did not have any questions about the parents. In order to open the application I believe they require whether he is employed or self employed, probably the application itself differs from one applicant to another based on this initial registration level. Do not look like he could change any of that information once entered so our concern is whether he has to check that question not the amount he will report in the application itself. There was also one section where they are asking to report at least one college that he would want this application sent and pay $16,00 for registration. We are not yet ready to send the css/profile to any college, but would like to start the application early in order to avoid any delay in submitting as he is still working on his college applications. Any help from someone who has already started filling in the registration part of the application would be greatly appreciated.<br>
Thanks once again for the replies.</p>
<p>^meant $16.00</p>
<p>I see. In that case I would suggest registering as “not employed” as he is a student. You can then choose any college to start - that could be changed later.</p>