<p>So, I've sent off my CSS profile and have three colleges that use the IDOC service. Does anyone know how long it usually takes for College Board to e-mail you the instructions on how to proceed? Thanks!</p>
<p>We’re in the same boat, submitted CSS Profile for my D in mid-January, and two of the schools use IDOC. We haven’t heard from IDOC yet, but the schools both have Feb. 15 deadlines for receiving tax copies, so we should be getting the instructions soon. I read somewhere that IDOC sends them out in early Feb. We’re still waiting for several tax documents to arrive before we can finish our taxes anyway. Hopefully it will all magically come together in time somehow!</p>
<p>For those of us who have students already away at college - they will need to either sign their tax return or sign the IDOC non-filer form. The IDOC insructions are adamant about the parent not signing the student’s name. Although IDOC has not e-mailed yet (later this week or next week) I found that the 2009 non-filer statement was already available on the IDOC website. So, I have printed out this form and am mailing it to my son for him to sign and mail back - doing this now to not hold things up later - thought I would mention this to anyone else who wants to do the same. The IDOC instructions also state that the student can go to the finaid office at their school if they need to sign the form, but I am a control freak and doing it this way seemed better to me.</p>
<p>I got the IDOC email today.</p>
<p>I received the IDOC email about 2 hours ago…</p>
<p>Everyone note that the IDOC instructions are very specific, and they expect you to follow them to the letter. Go over that checklist carefully before you submit. As I recall, they recommend (or require) USPS Priority mail, look for those instructions as well. I paid the extra $.65 or whatever it was for delivery confirmation; that way, I knew when I could start breathing again.</p>
<p>Thanks LasMa- this is my first time, but another suggestion I heard was to be sure that it’s signed- easy to forget if you have electronic forms.</p>
<p>OK, maybe someone can answer an IDOC question here (LasMa, I am counting on you!). The letter states that I need to submit “a complete signed copy of your parent’s 2009 federal income tax return including all required schedules . . etc etc” - and then specifically asks for W2 forms. On the checklist there are a bunch of forms listed, most of which apply, some of which don’t apply - so I am assuming it’s a pretty generic list. However, one thing on the checklist is “Form 1099 (all versions)”. Does this mean they want a copy of each 1099-int we got in? Or 1099-div? Just like the W2 all of the income information on these forms is itemized within the return, but this is the only place I see the 1099 request and its in there with things like a signed Pueto Rican Tax Return. Anybody know if they actually want these if not asked for specifically?</p>
<p>shirleym – You can tell I’m old school! I’ve never filed electronically, so yes, electronic returns would need to be manually signed for IDOC. I’d sign at the bottom, in the same spot that you’d sign a manual return.</p>
<p>carmen – Yes, that’s a comprehensive list, so you won’t submit anything on there that doesn’t apply. Do submit all 1099’s, all types, from all sources - INT, DIV, everything. </p>
<p>Before you send your packet, carefully double-check that everything is there; if something is missing, by the time the colleges discover it and notify you, you may really have to scramble to make their deadlines. </p>
<p>And don’t forget to complete and send the IDOC cover sheet.</p>
<p>This is our first year. Will we ned to do the whole CSS and IDOC thing each and every year? They sure don’t make this easy! Lets hope it’s all worth it and produces a little aid!</p>
<p>Sigh, I am still confused. If I go to the IDOC site, it specifically states: </p>
<p>Other Options Available to the Institution 1. Specification of deadline dates for receipt of documents. Institutions may specify separate dates for first-time and renewal applicants.
2. Specification of document requirements in addition to federal tax documents, which are requested from all students participating in IDOC and the parents of dependent applicants. Choices include: </p>
<p>Verification Worksheets
Parents’ federal tax documents from independent students
Parents’ W-2 and 1099 forms
Dependent students’ W-2 and 1099 forms
Independent students’ (and spouses’) W-2 and 1099 forms
Noncustodial parents’ tax forms
Noncustodial Parent’s Statement
Parents’ Business/Farm Supplement
Institution Specific Documents </p>
<p>So - it seems that these are listed as "other options’. My specific document list is:</p>
<p>What Documents Are Required?</p>
<p>One legible copy of each of the following documents is required:</p>
<p>A complete signed copy of your (the student’s) (and your spouse’s if married) 2009 federal income tax return (or a translated copy of your country’s equivalent), including all required Schedules and all Partnership or Corporate returns, is required if you filed or will file a federal income tax return for 2009. Do not send tax worksheets unless required for submission to the IRS. Do not send state tax returns. If you (and your spouse) are not required to file a 2009 federal or equivalent income tax return, you must submit a Non-tax Filer’s Statement and supporting documentation.
A complete signed copy of your parents’ 2009 federal income tax return (or a translated copy of their country’s equivalent), including all required Schedules and all Partnership or Corporate returns, is required if your parents filed or will file a tax return for 2009. Do not send tax worksheets unless required for submission to the IRS. Do not send state tax returns. If your parents are not required to file a 2009 federal or equivalent income tax return, they must submit a Non-tax Filer’s Statement and supporting documentation.
One copy of each of your (and your spouse’s) W-2 forms. Send only one copy of each form.
One copy of each of your parents’ W-2 forms. Send only one copy of each form.
A completed Business/Farm Supplement. </p>
<p>I am interpreting this to mean that they could have asked for 1099’s specifically but did not - but how the heck do I find out? Is there an actual help line that is actually helpful? BTW the reason I am hesitant is - seriously - do I really want to send off a copy of every bank account number and investment account number blindly to anybody if I don’t absolutely have to? I know some of you might have seen my rant about this incredibly sensitive information being sent into the wild, as it were, for this process. I really don’t understand why more people don’t have a problem with that aspect of it. I understand - the colleges need this information to verify our financial aid awards. Still - ugh!</p>
<p>Sent their helpline an email about it - will see whether I get an answer and what it is.</p>
<p>carmen, It does seem a bit ambiguous about the 1099s, although in my mind they’re similar to W2s so if W2s are called for, I’d assume 1099s are as well. My default was “When in doubt, send it.” But do call the helpline – I called them at one point when I was completing PROFILE, and they were helpful. I see from your post that you’re working on this early in the am, and I advise calling them early in the day. Mid- to late evening is the worst time. </p>
<p>I understand not wanting to send your sensitive information all over the place, and I don’t think you’ll need to send bank statements, etc. They basicallly want whatever you send to the IRS – which granted, is sensitive also. Here’s how I made myself comfortable with it: If a college (or IDOC) ever has an incident with abusing or losing this information, they lose all credibility with future applicants, and they know it. They are going to do whatever they have to do in order to safeguard it. Also, I don’t know that the colleges actually store your tax info; it may be that they verify it to your PROFILE/FAFSA, and then destroy it. I’d recommend that you contact the colleges though; they can probably set your mind at ease.</p>
<p>skier29: You will have to fill out these forms every year; however, now that you know the ropes, it will be MUCH easier in the future. Save any worksheets or calculations you’re making to arrive at estimates and totals, so you can just plug the new numbers in next year. And if your student ends up at a FAFSA-only school, you’ll never have to look at PROFILE again. :)</p>
<p>Heard back from Collegeboard, this is the text of the email:</p>
<p>"Please submit the documents listed in your requirement listing. If 1099’s are on your list, submit the ones you use.</p>
<p>The schools you apply to have specific requirements and we try to communicate to students which documents your schools require.</p>
<p>The cover sheet includes all doc’s possible so you should refer to the requirements listing for you.</p>
<p>I hope this information is helpful."</p>
<p>So, for all you people in doubt, seems clear that unless 1099’s are specifically asked for on your requirement listing, there is no need to include them.</p>
<p>I’m also a “when in doubt - send it” kind of person. But I was told on another thread to DEFINITELY not do that. I asked why but it got buried before I got an answer so I’ll chime in again on this one. Why shouldn’t we just send in everything we have and be done with it? I’m not hiding anything. Thanks!</p>
<p>I got my IDOC info in the email yesterday and I submitted the CSS PROFILE on Saturday.</p>
<p>R124687 - you may think you have “nothing to hide”, but really, who knows? I don’t know the “official” answer to your question, but I can tell you one reason I can think of. Even for people who have “nothing to hide”, it’s quite possible that some piece of information that looks innocent enough will adversly affect aid awards, which are, after all, given by human beings with descretionary powers. For example, my 1099-DIV has my trades on it, including the tax basis for the stocks we sold last year. Someone looking at that document can see how much long term capital gains we have, and might possibly award us a lower sum knowing we have a lot of unrealized profits. </p>
<p>The financial aid offices make their decisions based on the information they request which should lead to a more or less level playing field. Why give them extra information which could change that perspective adversely?</p>
<p>I think that pretty much describes the reason as I’ve understood it, carmen, for not sending unrequested material. If you send all forms that are requested then you have met the schools’ requirements for a financial aid application.</p>
<p>However, anything else you send that may contain information about other resources or whatever, they might/may/should/be required to then take that into account when processing your aid application. That’s why you’re advised to just send what they request and nothing more. If they felt they needed more documentation to make a judgement about aid, then they would ask for it.</p>
<p>For people with simple finances, no assets, modest incomes… yeah, it may not make much difference. I mean I could send them my only 1099-div that shows we earned $3.48 in interest on our one and only savings account last year. Will that have an adverse effect? No. But people have widely varying situations.</p>
<p>If we need a noncustodial parent waiver, how do we go about getting one?</p>
<p>Natim1, you need to contact the financial aid office at the college(s) you’re interested in and ask them how to proceed on that. The process can vary from college to college, but they grant or deny those requests as individual institutions – it’s not something that the CSS Profile manages or determines.</p>
<p>i still havn’t received the email- anyone else in the same problem?</p>