I just wanted to clarify this, but for FAFSA do I need to use the 2015 tax year and for CSS do I need to use the 2014 tax year?
No, both forms want tax information for the same year, assuming you are completing them for the same academic year.
That’s why I was confused, it would make sense for both to want the same year, but when I’m filling out the CSS Profile online, it references the 2014 IRS form? “Estimate your parents’ total number of exemptions for 2015 using their 2014 IRS Form 1040, line 6d.” And FAFSA asks for the 2015 IRS form. These are both for the 2016-2017 school year.
The CSS seems to assume you have not yet filed your 2015 Tax Returns, so it asks you to estimate the 2015 figures using your 2014 Tax Returns and whatever 2015 data you have. The FAFSA wants 2015 data, and it allows you to specify whether you have already filed or plan to file your 2015 Tax Return. If you have not yet filed, you can estimate and then go back and update the FAFSA (or use IRS Data Retrieval) with 2015 actuals. I don’t know if the CSS can be updated once it is sent.
^See its instructions.
Which means if 2015 returns are not yet available, estimate 2015 figures by using 2014 returns. However, 2014 figures may or may not be your best guess.
Thank you!