@twoinanddone thanks!
I have an estimation about his income and it barely met our families need, with some cut back on expenses.
Should I fill it in the non-filer section?
Is the non-filer section asking about US taxes, or ANY taxes? Read each question very carefully and only give the info asked. If the non-filer section is just for US taxes, then no, don’t fill it out. In the US, the non-filers can get a statement from the IRS that they haven’t files, but one needs a SSN to get that.
I think some colleges actually have their own non-filers statements. It’s the tax transcript that would be ordered through the IRS for those needing that.
This student is not a U.S. citizen and has never worked here. They won’t be able to order anything from the U.S. IRS.
You are an international student. There are plenty of countries where families are not required to file a tax return. Don’t even worry about that part.
Just complete the form with accurate information. In that blank at the end, if your parent was NOT required to file a tax return in your country you can write “parents were not required to file a tax return in Turkey”
It says:
Income from work
Interest income
All taxes, mandatory withholdings, amd set-asided paid or withheld. Include income taxes, state taxes, local taxes, levies, and mandatory retirement payments.
Pension, annuity, or retirement benefits.
@mommdc please proofread my responses here!
Unless I’m wrong…your father’s $3000 in income is income from work.
Do you have any bank accounts that earn interest? If so…put that amount. If not, put $0.
Is your parent collecting pension, annuity or retirement benefit? If yes, put that amount. If no, put $0.
I have never filled out the CSS profile, but fill out what applies, and leave out the rest.
If he received cash on hand and was not employed by anyone, he probably didn’t pay any taxes.
Agree…but it’s still income! Right?
Yes, it’s still income from working.
His earnings were the only income for our family in 2017, no pensions or interest from bank accounts etc. I have no idea what should I do. He didn’t pay any taxes, but I guess people who let him work their taxis did.
Forget about the taxes. If he wasn’t supposed to do them…fine.
No interest or pension income…just put $0 there too.
Just be honest about his $3000 income. Believe me, at colleges that meet full need for all accepted students, that $3000 income is NOT going to decrease your need based financial if…if that is your worry.
I’m not sure what your worry is now.
Just put $0 for taxes paid, interest, etc that doesn’t apply
List the income he received in 2017
Put in the explanation box that he didn’t file a tax return in Turkey, that he worked odd jobs for cash
You can try contacting the schools to see how they want you to handle this.
I don’t worry about it affecting my chances, that would be both absurd and unethical I guess. My only worry is that if I don’t report that income there will be no income in 2017 at all, colleges will wonder how did we survive that year and it will be so hard to explain once I submit it.
I think financial need can hurt admission chances at need aware colleges. But I don’t think such a small income will affect your chances of getting need based aid if you’re accepted.
Don’t worry about it. If your family income was $0 that would certainly raise some eyebrows.
But an income of $3000 very well could meet your expenses as you say it did.
Just fill out the form as accurately as you can, and submit it. Then wait and see what happens.
The very worst that could happen is the schools asks if you have any income documentation…your parent would simply say this was money paid in cash and they have no record of the exact amounts. I mean really…what else can you do?
Good luck.