I’m an undocumented student and so are my parents. And I was filling out the CSS Profile yesterday when I noticed that on the tax returns, my dad listed his income around half of what he actually makes. He said that he couldn’t afford to pay everything because we don’t get benefits and stuff.
How should I do the CSS and FAFSA?
Should I write down what’s on the tax returns and then explain in the comment section where we talk about special situations that my dad makes more than he put down for taxes and then list his actual income (which is in cash because he’s not a legal citizen or permanent resident)? (My mom doesn’t work)
@Madison85 @BelknapPoint I think this parent needs to amend his taxes so they are accurate. What do you think!
Wow.
What if everyone only paid the amount of tax they felt like paying / could afford to pay?
Aren’t you receiving the benefit of public school?
I am how this happened? Is your dad self employed? If he had w-2 income…the amount earned is reported to the IRS…and is supposed to match your return.
Sounds like dad is paid in cash…maybe under the table?
Does this sort of thing really surprise anyone?
In another post, you mentioned you applied to Questbridge. Does your incorrectly stating your father’s income affect that application? Isn’t verification required for QB?
Your father probably has been filing his taxes with an ITIN. Getting that straight with the IRS is a separate issue from your college applications, but he really should do that. He can set up a payment plan with the IRS. They will not need every single cent right away.
When this student signed the FAFSA application did they commit fraud since the student knows that the parent information is not correct or is the student only responsible for the student section?
The ethical, moral and legally correct answer would be to amend the tax returns to reflect the true income. Then correct the FAFSA and CSS. It might not be the realistic answer but any other answer I suspect would violate the rules of this board.
@mom2collegekids this doesn’t surprise me at all. I suspect that if everyone reported all their under the table income then we would have no federal debt. I have no choice since all my income is reported on an W-2.
Yes, the student is responsible for the student section.
Not reporting what is on the tax returns is fraud. It is a serious crime. What if we all only reported half of what we make. Would that be right?
I believe the father IS reporting on FAFSA what is on the tax return. The student suspects that that tax return is incorrect.
When the CSS and FAFSA ask what your dad earned, you’re supposed to put the actual number, not just what he reported.