S-Corp Business Income on CSS PROFILE

Hi. My mom owns and operates a business which was converted into an S-Corp last year (from a partnership). I am filling out the CSS profile.

I selected NO for self employed, for my mom. For my mom’s income (PI-160A) I entered 0, since the business income is not reflected on 1040 lines 7, 12, 18 and because there is no k-1 1065. (The business income is on 1040 line 17. There is a 1040 schedule E and a separate business return which has a form 1120s with a schedule K1). Is there anything obviously wrong with what I have put down?

For “expected income and benefits” for my mom (PF105A), should I enter 0, since it will be business income?

Thank you.

Why isn’t she getting a W-2 from the S-Corp?

Did your mom get a salary from the S-Corp? If so, her business accountant should have given her a w-2 for that, and it gets reported on the profile. Then there is a separate form for small businesses that most CSS colleges also require – look at their website and contact the FA office if you can’t find it.

She did get a W2. Her wages are not reported on the 1040 (lines 7, 12, or 18) or on a schedule K1 form 1065. Her W2 income is reported on the 1120S on line 7, and is used to calculate the ordinary business income (on 1120S line 21).

Eventually the business income is reflected on 1040 line 17.

Does this make sense? Thanks.

For reference, here is the income question:

PI-160A: Enter the income parent 2 earned or expects to earn from work in 2015 from his or her 2015 IRS Form 1040, lines 7, 12, and 18 and IRS Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), Box 14 (Code A). If lines 12 or 18 or Box 14 are negative, treat them as zero. If your parents filed a joint return, enter only parent 2’s portion of lines 7, 12, and 18 and K-1, box 14. (Parent 2 is the parent you entered in PD-195.)

And here is the future income (2016) question:

PF-105A: Enter the amount of income parent 2 expects to earn from work in 2016. (Parent 2 is the parent you entered in PD-195.)

(which seems to be the future version of the first question)

A W2 gets entered on her personal 1040. I have an S-Corp, that is how it works. So that W-2 amount should be showing up on line 7 of her 1040. Then there is info from the K-1 on the net income of the business (that W-2 salary is not included in that number, it is a business expense) that shows up on line 17 (details are in Schedule E). The K-1 and the 1020S are sort of informational for the IRS – the S-Corp doesn’t pay federal taxes on it. The income flows through to her personal return on lines 7 & 17. If the S-Corp made money and/or paid her a salary last year, and she pays taxes on it – it should be showing up on her personal return on those lines.

Maybe some kinds of S-corps are different – I think there are questions about passive vs non-passive income & loss, for example. But I think most of them work as I have described.

First, I have to make a correction: the business is split between my parents who are equal shareholders. Only my mom gets a W2 from the business, though.

All of the business income on the K-1, reported on the schedule E, is non-passive. On the K-1, the ordinary business income is split 50-50 between my parents.

Line 7 on the 1120S is compensation of officers, which is where my moms W2 income is entered. This is added to determine the ordinary business income, which is split 50-50 on the K-1. This info from the K1 goes to schedule E which goes to line 17.

So my mom’s W2 income is eventually reflected on line 17. However the CSS question only asks for lines 7, 12, or 18.

Sorry if I am stating the obvious or not being clear - please let me know. Alternatively, is there a better place where I should ask these questions? Thank you!

Officer comp is a deduction on the 1120S. It’s still income on the 1040.

Does it count as income for parent 2 for the CSS questions in post #4 though? Because it’s not reflected on lines 7, 12, or 18 on the 1040 (even though she has a W2), which is what the CSS is asking for. It is reflected on 1040 line 17… Thanks!

If your mother’s W-2 doesn’t appear on the Wages line of the 1040, it appears that the 1040 was prepared incorrectly. Or that you misunderstand the underlying facts. Without seeing any of the paperwork, it’s hard to tell.

You could call the college. Most Profile schools also want you to fill out the Collegeboard Business/Farm Supplement, too. And I really think all W-2s go on line 7, I don’t think there are exceptions. I am an officer in my company, take a salary, and get a W-2 – it goes on line 7.

Okay, I will have my parents check with the accountant and may give the college a call after some more reading.

Intparent, from what I can tell, officer compensation differs from employee compensation. Since my mom is an officer, her salary can be reported on line 7 of the 1120S, not line 7 of the 1040… but I will have this checked out I guess.

Do you enter anything for Compensation of Officers on the 1120S, if you don’t mind sharing, since you are an officer?

You guys are right. Her W2 is included on the 1040 where you said it should be. I made a mistake with the math… Thanks for all your help!

I’m an officer of my S-corp. Because I provide services, I get a salary, and a W2. I report that on the “wages, tips…” line of the 1040. The corporation also takes it as a deduction, “Compensation of Officers,” on the 1120S. I also get a share of the net profit, reported to me on a K-1, which I report on a different line of the 1040 (I get 100%, because I am the only shareholder, but it sounds like OP’s parents each get 50%.)

Yes, my situation is the same as Sweetbeet’s. But I think you have figured this out. OP, check the websites carefully to see if they also say they want the Business/Farm form. Some colleges have their own form. Some want it. Some don’t want it. Some say they will ask you if they want it. My kid’s colleges were all over the place on it. I just checked the spreadsheet I kept, and every single school (all were CSS schools) wanted the business tax returns sent along with the personal ones (including the K-1). Again, look carefully at what they need. You can call each school and ask if they want business tax returns and if there is any special business form you need to fill out, too.

This is one reason why I am glad my kids didn’t apply to tons of schools. Every school had slightly different nuances of what they wanted sent in, when they wanted it, and how they wanted it sent. It drove me to distraction. I can’t imaging how students who apply to 15-20 schools cope, especially if their parents have businesses. Ugh.