Hi CC. I am applying to Urichmond and Washington and Lee by the december 1st deadline. I am trying to fill out the css profile because it is required. They ask for actual copies of tax forms and my dad is reluctant about actually sending the colleges the tax forms because he says all the information has already been entered into the fafsa and the css. Can someone help me get a better idea of why colleges it is necessary so i can explain it to him? Is it to prevent fraud or something like that?
Colleges that require actual tax forms are trying to catch students, and parents, who are trying to cheat by submitting false information on the CSS. The fact that your father is reluctant to send the tax forms is a red flag.
I have seen his tax forms and i helped fill out the fafsa and css. also he filled the fafsa by using the data retrieval tool so it cant be that. I guess what im really wondering is whether he has concern to be worried about privacy issues
If a college is to award you tens of thousands of dollars in aid they want to verify the information. The alternative is to attend without financial aid.
The FAFSA only asks about AGI and earned income and tax paid, etc. Maybe the CSS profile school wants to see extra schedules and such to get a clearer picture of the income and deductions.
If your dad wants you to get financial aid from that school he will have to send what’s required. He can probably black out all but the last 4 digits of SOC sec numbers and any bank account number on the return.
You can check with the school.
Thank you so much. I will check with the school.
I don’t think your father is wrong to ask about ways to insure the confidential information is stored in a safe way. I know my daughter’s school takes what info they need and shreds the docs immediately. If people include info that isn’t requested, it is shredded. When I fax or email stuff, it goes to a person and not a general number.
Sometimes they only want the first two pages of tax returns, sometimes only certain schedules.
It is not unusual for schools to request copies of the actual tax forms along with the the transcript from the IRS in order to verify that the self reported information that the family places on the FAFSA and the profile is correct. Actually, it is now standard practice at most schools that you will have to turn in a copy of your IRS transcript (even if you used the DRT) in order to actually receive aid.
Why is this a surprise when the school clearly states this on their financial aid page.
https://www.wlu.edu/financial-aid/apply-for-aid/how-to-apply
If this is something that your father does not want to do, then you do not need to apply to this school or apply to this school with the intent of paying and not receiving any financial aid
University of Richmond’s financial aid deadline is November 15 for ED and EA (you are already late). To avoid a reduction in your financial aid award, in addition to giving the school what they are asking for, you should change your application to RD in order to avoid the 10% reduction in need-based aid.
I am not applying to Richmond ea or ed. i am just applying by december 1st for merit scholarship consideration. For the financial aid stuff, the deadline is the same as regular decision. For colleges needing to verify info he completely understands. He was just worried about confidentiality. We are checking up with the schools. Thanks for your response.
We had to send in tax forms to several schools. We also had to upload tax forms for IDOC purposes.
As noted…if you want institutional need based aid…You need provide what the college requests…or your request for aid will not be considered…at all.
Yes, you can black out all but the last four digits of everyone’s SS numbers. But everything else needs to be seen by colleges that request it.