<p>I'm in a complicated situation: my dad works in another country so he is employed. I'm planning on writing my common app essay on this. So on the common app, I put down an occupation for my father. However, I am also planning to apply for financial aid. Because my dad works in another country, he doesn't have to pay any income tax here in the US. So basically, he's "unemployed." Is this discrepancy going to cause any problems with the admissions officers? What do I do...Is the application and financial aid application viewed by different people?</p>
<p>your dad is NOT unemployed…even if he doesn’t pay US taxes. He has income, that will get listed when you apply for aid.</p>
<p>He’s not “unemployed” and his income will be considered in your financial aid eligibility calculation.</p>
<p>Your dad is not considered unemployed. Where did you get that idea? Even if he does not owe any taxes in this country, all his income from wherever he has income in the world will still have to be reported FAFSA and on any other forms the school requires. </p>
<p>Also if he is a US citizen or green card holder overseas income is taxable in the US. There is a large credit available for people who are out of the country more than a certain % of the year, but he is still legally required to to file a tax return in the US and if he earns over the amount of the credit he could still have to pay US taxes. (Not that that matters from an FA point of view,but his earnings certainly do).</p>
<p>Your dad has a job = he adds to the family income
Just cause he doesn’t file a tax return with the IRS (or if he does, with all 0’s), doesn’t mean he doesn’t make any money.</p>
<p><a href=“Not%20that%20that%20matters%20from%20an%20FA%20point%20of%20view,but%20his%20earnings%20certainly%20do”>quote</a>.
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Scratch this part of my comment. Senior moment. Of course his filing a US tax return does matter - a lot - if he is a US citizen or Green Card holder. If he is required to file a US return he will have to do so for you to be eligible to apply for any aid. If he is not a US citizen or green card holder, then he does not have to file a US return, but his overseas income will still be required by FAFSA and by schools that use other forms. (I’m assuming your parents are not divorced - if they are and he is the non custodial parent some schools will require his financial info for their institutional aid, but FAFSA will not).</p>
<p>Your dad’s foreign income will need to be converted to U.S. dollars and entered onto your financial aid application (FAFSA and PROFILE and school forms…whatever is required by your school).</p>
<p>To elaborate a little on what swimcatsmom and Thumper stated, the US Dept of Education will also cross check the FAFSA data with income tax forms filed. If they don’t agree then you end up having to be verified which entails sending copies of supporting documentation.</p>
<p>Oh okay. I didn’t know; I was just speculating. Thanks for all the answers. I know what I’m doing now.</p>