<p>I've already missed one deadline because my mother couldn't find any paystubs from last year, and didn't have her w2's yet. I'm hoping they come today. She ended up finding a paystub from the end of December, should I use those figures to fill out the CSS profile. Can I go back and edit the numbers later? She never files her taxes right away, so I don't want to be waiting forever. Also, since I missed the "financial priority" deadline with the CSS, how will that affect me. I did have the fafsa turned in.
The CSS is just more detailed, and I don't know how to determine the AGI. (Oh yeah, she can't even find her tax returns from last year so I can't use that!)</p>
<p>File it as quickly as you can. You can send an update later with more correct numbers. By missing the financial priority deadline you may be asking for funds from a smaller pot (many awards already given).</p>
<p>Okay, do you know how to determine the AGI with a paystub?</p>
<p>It’s not too hard. People either get paid weekly (multiply by 52) or monthly (multiply pay stub amount by 12) or every other week (multiply by 27). </p>
<p>Take a moment and look at last years taxes (2008). There should be a salary line on the first page. See if lines up, sort of, with the answer you get from multiplying out the pay stub. It should be close unless your mom changed job or got a big raise. </p>
<p>Also, take a moment to look at the pay stub. Some times you have salary and then there are a lot of things subtracted – like insurance, parking fees, etc. You want the salary before all those deductions. </p>
<p>My heart goes out to you. The CSS is a brutal form. I am 52 years old and have done our taxes for years. I can barely cope with the CSS Profile. </p>
<p>My suggestion is that you finish the CSS as fast as you can with the very best “guesstimates” that you can. The deadlines are important. When the 2009 taxes are done, make sure you make copies for all the schools that want a copy (most do) and then also contact the finaid offices if you notice that you really goofed on some aspect of the Profile. (Better that you let them know that there is an error than they find it on their own). </p>
<p>Make sure you print off a copy of the Profile. That way you have it 1) in case you have to fill out the silly thing again and 2) as a record of what you submitted. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Bummer, I just re-read that you don’t have the previous year’s taxes. Wow. Buy your mom a filing box for Valentines. Honestly. </p>
<p>OK, back to the pay stubs then. Adjusted Gross Income is actually several things added up. For instance, it includes salary, interest and dividends earned, and other stuff. Go to the IRS website and look up the 1040A form. That’s a good start. Ask your mom if she remembers having anything other than the pay stub money that she listed. </p>
<p>I CAN promise you that this is the worst year for these forms. Once you have conquered the FAFSA, the next year is much easier (KEEP A COPY!). Many schools only want the CSS Profile for the first year and then a copy of tax returns for the other years. Once you get this done once, the next times are much easier. Hang in there.</p>
<p>Yeah - I basically made guesstimates. Hopefully all turns out well.</p>