Too many Zeros?

<p>I'm filling out the CSS profile right now and I feel really nervous. There is a lot of stuff we have to put 0 for or an amount that seems unrealistic. Does it look fishy if there is a lot of stuff we claim we don't have? We are not lying and my parents are filling it out to the best of their ability. How much will this affect my chances at schools if they see I can't pay?</p>

<p>Some other questions:</p>

<p>*For tuition should we put the costs of field trips, lab fees, etc? Right now we go to a public school and thus we pay no tuition.</p>

<p>*My parents have been living together for 10 years but are not legally married even though they consider themselves to be. They both file as single and they both contribute to the family. When they ask for income and benefits should I add up both of values(one for mom and dad) or should I use one parent only?</p>

<ul>
<li>I have 3 sister in high and elementary schools. Do I enter the school's name into the academic institution they attend?</li>
</ul>

<p>If your child attends a public school, you put ZERO for tuition costs. You are not paying them. Costs of fluidly trips, etc do not count.</p>

<p>thanks for the speedy reply thumper!</p>

<p>Not sure what the new rules are for Profile, if any. However, the FAFSA now requires students whose parents live together - married or not - to include the info for both parents. What are the Profile instructions for the parent income section?</p>

<p>hello Kelsmom,</p>

<p>thank you for the reply. On the CSS profile it asks for parents marital status but when one selects “single” or anything that implies my parents file separately, only one box is shown. So when it asks for gross income do I only use one tax return or do I add both of them up and then send it? This is all very confusing…</p>

<p>These are your biological parents, correct? Isn’t there a “never married, living together” marital status option? I found several references on the internet that there is for profile.</p>

<p>That’s what I chose. Do I add up the data from tax returns and then enter it? My dad can’t even find his taxes and this stuff is due on the 15. I asked them months ago to do this…</p>

<p>I’ve never done profile. Aren’t there more detailed instructions with each question? The references I’ve found online say that if the status is unmarried, living together then you include the financial info of both parents. For income/taxes that would mean adding together the info on the two returns filed as single.</p>

<p>I’ve decided to add them up. However, another issue has risen. My father can’t find his tax forms and is making 0 effort to try to find them. I’ve told him about the deadline several times but he doesn’t really seem to care. What should I do? The profile is not difficult but it’s almost impossible without his information.</p>

<p>Explain to him that he has a choice - help you complete the Profile or pay your college expenses for the next four years.</p>

<p>Where is your mother in all this? She needs to help you explain to your dad how important this is.</p>

<p>Get a 4506T-EZ for your dad to file or file it for him and just get his electronic signature for a transcript of his prior year return he can’t find.</p>

<p>Ok thank for the replies. Fortunately, he finally found it. now, if he does not claim me as a dependent but lives in our home and contributes his income, do I still include his info CSS profile?</p>

<p>Yes, you still include him.</p>