<p>Yes, I've asked this for like the fifth time. What is the income tax mean in CSS. I'm no American. Does it apply for internationals?</p>
<p>Income tax is the amount of money wage earners pay to their governments…out of their earnings. In the U.S. federal income tax is withheld from the incomes of most wage earners. The “taxes” referred to on the Profile are federal income taxes not state.</p>
<p>Now…you will have to find out just what this means for an international student. My understanding (and I am NOT NOT NOT an expert on international finaid) is that your parents (and your) incomes need to be reported but translated into U.S. dollars on the Profile. Someone else will need to clarify…but I also believe taxes paid are also reported…again translated into U.S. dollars.</p>
<p>Hopefully someone with experience dealing with filing the Profile as an international can clarify.</p>
<p>This is ridiculous. It asks how long has my parent been unemployed. They’ve never even worked. What year do I type in then?</p>
<p>Even more ridiculous is how many farms I own… and am I married, or have I been into battle. Oh god…</p>
<p>Interesting to say is that the question is ask is repetitive. At least 7 times it asks me my annual income. Twice it asks me the marital status of my parents.</p>
<p>If your parents have income from their own business (a farm or anything else), that is still income.</p>
<p>Here in the United States, if you are married, you may not need to provide parent income, but you DO need to provide both yours and your wife’s. The biggest thing you will need to clarify if you indeed have NO INCOME is how your family pays its bills.</p>
<p>AND to get a visa to study in this country you or your parents will have to sign a statement saying the have the resources to pay your bills for the entire year…or you will not be issued a student study visa.</p>
<p>You need to find out from your school whose info you need to provide on the Profile. I can’t answer that question.</p>
<p>More important…you need to KNOW whether your potential college will guarantee to meet your full need. This is not something most U.S. colleges do for international students. In fact, the list of schools that meet full need for anyone…is a short one.</p>
<p>By the way…it’s not riduculous for schools to want to know your income and assets on the Profile. This form is used to award NEED BASED AID and knowing a family’s income and assets gives the school the info to compute what the family is expected to contribute. And yes…the multiple farms count.</p>
<p>Are you saying that your parents have NEVER worked? How has your family supported itself?</p>
<p>I live in a city with lack of land. How many farms do you think I own? I come from a very poor family.</p>
<p>If you don’t own farms, answer 0. If you don’t have income for a question, answer 0. If you are married answer yes, if not answer no, similarly for your parents. The forms are not fun but they are necessary and they don’t try to be difficult but they try to ask as many questions as they can to determine assets/income. They understand that not all questions apply to all applicants so they do not expect everyone to have farms, businesses, etc.</p>
<p>And for your orginal question, if you don’t have a US tex return but you have a non US tax return, you submit that. They likely have specific answers at each school for what they need for an international student so you need to contact the financial aid office at the schools you are applying to and ask what forms they may need. For the FAFSA it should have instructions on what you need to fill out if you specify you will not file a US tax return but an international one.</p>
<p>Lol. I find the above post very amusing. =D You just made my day.</p>
<p>Isn’t FAFSA American only?</p>
<p>How have your parents NEVER worked?</p>
<p>FAFSA is for US citizens and permanent legal residents no matter where in the world they are currently residing. If you aren’t a US citizen or permanent legal resident, and you don’t fall into one of the other special non-citizen categories (read the FAFSA website for details), you can’t file the FAFSA.</p>
<p>MrP: Your attitude is a little abrupt in your annoyance at not getting the answers you want immediately. It might be helpful to know, most parents seem to post on weekdays, more than weekends (we read CC when we should be working!)</p>
<p>If you are applying to US private colleges and hoping for a financial aid award, they want to know every gory detail about your life, they may even provide with with follow up forms. The forms can be redundant and frustrating, but remember, you are asking these $50,000 a year schools for free money, so be gracious and give them all your info.</p>
<p>Do the best you can to translate your international tax return into the answers they want and provide a copy of your country’s report on your family’s income and assets. If you make an error, they will help you correct it, but keep it honest and when dealing with the financial aid departments, encourage them to want to help you, in some of your posts on CC you come across a bit disdainful and annoyed- that won’t make some one want to go above and beyond for you. Be friendly and cooperative and appreciative and you will get more assistance :)</p>
<p>Yes, FAFSA is for permanent residents or citizens only. BUT the Profile can be filed for any student and is required by the schools with the most generous financial aid. As pointed out above…complete the application with all the information that IS pertinant to you including any income or assets you do have. Fill in all the blanks. If you don’t have something (like a farm or business) just put either no, or $0 whichever applies.</p>
<p>BUT do be prepared to explain how you are living with a family that has never worked. This will be something that will likely raise a question when your financial aid application is reviewed. SO have documentation for everything.</p>
<p>And remember…your parents WILL have to prove they have the funds to support your full year of study in the U.S. for you to obtain a student visa here. This support CAN include financial aid that is guaranteed by your school. Nothing “tentative” counts…like if you’ve applied for loans or scholarships you have not yet been awarded, you cannot list them as a means of support, Your parents will need to provide bank statements and/or pay stubs or some documentation support what they say they can provide for you financially,</p>
<p>And just for the record…this is not unique to the U.S,. When our kiddo did his study abroad, we had to proved the SAME documentation (pay stubs AND bank account balances…and a notarized affidavit) to prove we had sufficient financial resources for him.</p>
<p>MrPropaganda’s not an American and he’s going to the University of Toronto. Why would FAFSA and the Profile even apply?</p>
<p>Don’t know…maybe MrP is applying to transfer.</p>
<p>@somemom: I know. I’m just frustrated. I apologize for my behaviour. I know absolutely that it is not your fault. </p>
<p>@stevesmama: So CSS Profile is also for Americans also? But the school said that it is required on their application form.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m sorry for the confusion. Only 1 of my parents never worked. It’s hard to get a job even now…</p>
<p>CCS Profile would be for any student, international or not at any American University which requires it. I believe MrP has applied for US & Canada and other HK, etc schools. I think he has been admitted to Toronto, but is still hoping for MIT/Cal/etc (Man, don’t hold your breath for any $$ from Berkeley!)</p>
<p>Exactly . I’ve pretty given much hope on US schools since my unbelievably bad scores on SATs and my Midyear Report. Pretty much messed things up and I’m just holding my last breath for MIT, since I really like the school. I don’t know why, it’s just so cool. Anyways, I stick to my motto: In MIT we trust. Only time will tell my future…</p>
<p>“This is ridiculous. It asks how long has my parent been unemployed. They’ve never even worked.”</p>
<p>Check this in the online instructions, but I believe a parent is considered “unemployed” only if they WANT to be employed. Thus, for example, a stay-at-home-by-choice parent is not “unemployed” and you would not have to answer the “how long” question.</p>