Thank you for joining our October 8, 2026 CSS Profile webinar with Luanne Lee! You asked so many great questions in the chat that we couldn’t get to them all live, so Luanne answered them here. Since some rules vary from school to school, it’s always a good idea to check with each college’s financial aid office to confirm the details for your student.
Three Common Misunderstandings, Cleared Up
Three chat comments reflected misunderstandings that could cost families aid.
“For the FAFSA we use 2024 taxes, but for CSS we use 2025?”
No. For the 2027-28 school year, both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile use your 2025 tax return.
“I assume this is confidential and not shared with the college?”
The opposite. The whole purpose of the CSS Profile is to send your financial information to the colleges you list so they can award their own aid. College Board doesn’t share it with anyone else, but every school on your list receives it.
“Can we wait until our student is accepted early before doing the CSS Profile?”
Don’t wait. Early decision and early action schools usually set CSS Profile deadlines in early to mid-November so they can send a financial aid offer with the acceptance. If you miss it, you may get your offer late or lose priority for institutional grants. Check each school’s financial aid deadlines page.
Getting Started and the Basics
If you’re new to the CSS Profile, start here. These answers cover what the form is for, who needs to file, and how to set up your student’s College Board account.
What is the purpose of the CSS Profile?
The FAFSA determines federal aid. The CSS Profile is a more detailed application that about 250 colleges, mostly private, use to award their own institutional grants. It asks things the FAFSA doesn’t, like home equity, the non-custodial parent’s finances, and retirement balances.
Is the CSS Profile required? What if I don’t want to fill it out?
It’s only required if you want to be considered for that school’s need-based aid. Skipping it usually means no institutional grants. The participating schools list shows which applicant groups each school requires it from (for example, domestic vs. international, or non-custodial parents). Merit aid is determined by grades, test scores, extracurriculars, and similar factors, but some schools require financial aid forms to be submitted the first year. You can always call the school and ask about its requirements.
If we’re only counting on merit scholarships, should we still file?
Luanne recommends filing both the FAFSA and the CSS Profile at least the first year, even with a high income. Some families still receive aid, and it shows the school you can afford to stay all four years. Most merit aid doesn’t require the CSS Profile, but check each school’s scholarship requirements.
Is the College Board account the same one used for SAT registration?
Yes. Log in to your student’s existing College Board account. Don’t create a new one.
My student’s account uses their high school email. Should I change it to mine? Will that affect Naviance or college applications?
Change it to your student’s personal email, not a parent’s email, in the College Board profile settings. The account belongs to the student, and future notices go there. Changing it doesn’t affect Naviance or other platforms. Luanne suggests that any platform your student will keep using after high school use a personal email address.
Can we use the student’s 529 to pay the CSS Profile fees?
No. Application-type fees generally aren’t qualified 529 expenses, so using 529 money could trigger taxes and a penalty on the earnings. Check with your plan or tax preparer.
Do I need a separate CSS Profile for each child (twins, or one freshman and one sophomore)?
Yes. Each student files their own CSS Profile through their own College Board account, every year the school requires it. List the other child as a sibling in college on each one.
We’re guardians of a junior. What do we need to enter?
Nothing yet. Juniors file in the fall of senior year, so this student will file the 2028-29 CSS Profile starting October 2027. Legal guardians are required to file the CSS Profile. Whether a school treats a student as independent of the guardian’s finances depends on each child’s situation and is the school’s decision. Start gathering your court documentation now.
Every school sets its own CSS Profile deadline, so it pays to plan ahead. These answers explain when to add schools, what it costs, and how to keep your student’s financial aid on track.
Can I list just a couple of schools now and add more later? Can I submit for an ED school first, then add others?
Yes. You can log back in after submitting and add schools, paying the per-school fee for each. Many families submit for an early decision school first and add the rest only if needed. Be mindful of each school’s deadline, especially for early action. Regular decision applications have later deadlines.
What if we list a school but our student ends up not applying?
The school still receives the CSS Profile but does nothing with it. The fee isn’t refunded, which is a good reason to add schools only once your student is sure.
When does the CSS Profile have to be completed?
Each school sets its own deadline, often different for early decision, early action, and regular decision. Search “[school name] financial aid deadlines” on each school’s site. Allow 3 to 5 days for College Board to process before the deadline.
Divorced, Separated, Widowed, and Non-custodial Parents
Family situations are rarely simple, and each school handles them a little differently. These answers cover non-custodial parent profiles, waivers, and how to explain unique circumstances on your student’s CSS Profile.
Some of our schools require the non-custodial parent (NCP) and some don’t. How do we make sure the NCP’s information only goes to the schools that require it?
College Board sends the NCP Profile only to the schools on your student’s list that require it, so the NCP doesn’t choose schools.
What happens if the NCP never logs in and we don’t get a waiver?
It depends on the school. Some will still review the custodial parent’s information, some won’t award institutional grants, and some may tell the family the school isn’t a financial fit. Contact each school’s financial aid office early.
The NCP can’t participate because of a medical or neurological condition. Do I request a waiver from each school before submitting?
Yes. Each school decides on its own waiver, so contact each financial aid office and ask for its process. Expect to provide documentation, such as a letter from a doctor. Submit your part of the Profile on time while the waiver is pending. If the school won’t provide a waiver for a medical condition, and the NCP has little to no income, it may be better to have the ex or someone else complete the Profile for them so your student doesn’t lose out on aid.
The NCP isn’t a U.S. citizen. Do they still have to submit?
Yes. Citizenship doesn’t exempt a parent. If a school requires the NCP Profile, the NCP still needs to complete it, converting foreign income to U.S. dollars.
The NCP can’t or won’t contribute financially. What are our options?
A parent’s refusal to pay doesn’t qualify for a waiver on its own. Your options are to apply to schools that don’t require NCP information, or to use the special circumstances section to briefly explain the situation. The NCP Profile has its own space for the NCP to explain their finances, including debt.
The NCP agreed to pay a set amount, but I don’t think they will. Should I enter that amount or zero?
Enter what you can document. If there’s a written agreement, you can report it and add a brief note in special circumstances. The school only cares that the semester bill gets paid. It doesn’t matter what your financial arrangement is with your ex, and schools won’t send separate statements to each parent.
My ex is deceased / I’m widowed. Where do I indicate that?
In the parental relationships section, list the deceased parent and the year they passed. No NCP Profile is needed.
There is no other parent because the child was conceived by an anonymous donor.
List yourself as the only parent, and explain briefly in special circumstances if the form asks about another parent.
Is child support ending when my student graduates high school a “significant change”?
Probably not on its own, but it’s worth a one-line note in special circumstances since it reduces your income. For example: “Child support for Susie will end on June 20, 2027.”
Income Questions
Reporting income on the CSS Profile is different from the FAFSA, and small details can make a big difference. These answers cover tax return figures, W-2 earnings, retirement contributions, and how to explain unusual income.
We file jointly. Do we split our tax figures in half between Parent 1 and Parent 2?
No. Tax return figures (AGI, taxes paid, line items) are entered once for the household as they appear on your joint 1040. Only earnings from work are entered separately for each parent, from each person’s W-2.
We file married filing separately. Does each parent enter their own income?
Yes. Each parent enters the figures from their own return.
For “parent earnings,” what number do I use? Is it the same as line 1a?
Use each parent’s wages from their W-2, not AGI. Retirement and HSA contributions are entered separately in the next questions. Not all wages, tips, and commissions are reported on line 1z of Form 1040. Do not report earned income that is already reported in your tax return, for example 1099 earnings reported on a Schedule C.
Like the FAFSA, can I pull tax information directly from the IRS?
No. The CSS Profile has no IRS data transfer. You enter each figure manually from your return, and some schools will ask you to upload documents through IDOC. If a school doesn’t use IDOC, it will use its own portal for document uploads.
How do I calculate untaxed retirement contributions?
These come from Box 12 of your W-2. Generally include codes D, E, F, G, H, and S. Don’t include AA (Roth 401k, already taxed) or DD (employer health coverage cost). These typically appear in W-2 boxes 12a through 12d. If you’re unsure, ask your HR or payroll department.
I started receiving a pension in 2026. Where does it go in the 2026 estimate?
Pension and retirement disbursements are taxable income, so taxable pension income goes under other taxable income for 2026.
How do we report foreign pension income or a United Nations pension? Is a UN pension a “civil service” plan?
A UN pension is not a civil service plan. Unlike UN salaries, UN pensions are generally subject to national income taxation, depending on the laws of the country where you reside. Report it as untaxed income or foreign/overseas income. If it’s taxed by the IRS, it’s already on your 1040 and flows through that way. For the retirement plan type, “other” may fit best. More information is available at unjspf.org.
For non-U.S. tax returns, what exchange rate and date should we use?
College Board doesn’t mandate a source. A defensible choice is the IRS yearly average exchange rate for 2025. Use it consistently and note your source in special circumstances.
Is a 3% annual raise a “significant change” in income?
No. A significant change is something like a job loss, going on disability, or retirement.
Most of our AGI is business profit we never receive as cash. Can I explain that in special circumstances?
Yes. That’s a good use of the special circumstances section. Keep it to a sentence or two, such as “About $X of our AGI is S-corp profit retained in the business and not distributed to us.”
Do untaxed disability benefits include state reimbursements for developmental disability expenses?
Reimbursements for specific expenses generally aren’t income, but this is state specific.
How should we report a short-term rental’s months rented when no stay is longer than two weeks?
Likely the total number of months with any rental activity. Look at your short-term rental records, and add a short note in special circumstances.
Retirement Accounts
Many parents worry that colleges will count their retirement savings. These answers explain what schools actually look at, which accounts belong in the retirement section, and which balances to report.
Why do they want our retirement balances? Do they expect us to use retirement money for tuition?
Schools do not assess your retirement balances in their calculations. They do assess your annual retirement contributions as part of your income on the CSS Profile (not on the FAFSA), unless you contribute to self-employed plans such as SEP or SIMPLE, which appear on your 1040.
Does the retirement section include Roth IRAs? Where do SEP plans go?
Yes to both. Roth IRAs, SEPs, SIMPLEs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and rolled-over IRAs all go in the retirement section, not investments.
Is a CalPERS pension a union or civil service plan?
CalPERS is a state public employee pension, so the government or civil service option is closest. Your annual contribution is included as untaxed income, and your annual disbursement is included in your income.
My spouse’s company has an ESOP and he isn’t fully vested. Is that an asset?
An ESOP is a retirement plan, so it belongs in the retirement section at its vested value, not in investments.
Can I use my last 401(k) statement balance, or does it need to be the day I submit?
The most recent statement balance is reasonable for retirement accounts. For checking, savings, and brokerage accounts, use the balance on the day you complete the Profile.
Brokerage balances change daily, so uploaded statements may not match what I entered. Is that okay?
Yes. Schools expect small differences. Enter the value on the day you file and keep a screenshot or note of it. You won’t be asked to upload your asset statements.
Home, Real Estate, and Other Assets
Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile asks about your home and other real estate. These answers cover how to estimate home value, how to report rental property, and how to handle 529 plans and gifts from relatives.
How do we estimate our home’s current market value? Can we discount it for a quick sale?
Use a reasonable, documentable estimate: a recent appraisal, a realtor’s comparable sales, or an online estimate like Zillow or Redfin. Enter fair market value rather than a quick-sale discount, and explain any reason the value is unrealistic in special circumstances. The school will use its own assessment, and some schools cap or ignore home equity anyway.
Does rental property outside the U.S. have to be reported?
Yes. All real estate other than your primary residence counts, wherever it’s located. Report its value minus what you owe, converted to U.S. dollars.
A rental house is in my name and my parent’s name, but all the income goes to my parent.
Report only your share of the value, and add a one-line explanation in special circumstances.
Grandparents own a 529 for our student. Do we report it? Do relatives’ contributions include grandparent 529s?
Unlike the FAFSA, the CSS Profile asks about support expected from relatives. If grandparents plan to use their 529 for college, that’s where it belongs, and some schools count it.
Should I count our 529 in what we expect to contribute each year?
Yes. Luanne’s guidance: divide your 529 balance by four and include that in your yearly expected contribution, plus anything you plan to pay from income.
Household, Expenses, and Special Circumstances
Every household is different, and the CSS Profile gives you room to share what makes yours unique. These answers cover who to include in your household, which expenses count, and how to use the special circumstances section.
What does it mean to be Parent 1 vs. Parent 2 if we’re married and live together?
Nothing financially. It’s just how the form organizes information. Pick one and stay consistent, because switching later means re-entering that parent’s information throughout.
An elderly parent lives with us with no income, and we cover all their expenses. Do we include them?
Yes. List them as a dependent in your household if you provide more than half their support. Elder care is also one of the special circumstances options.
Our older child graduated, and I’m still paying a Parent PLUS loan. Do I include it?
Yes. The parent education loans question asks about loans you’re still repaying, including Parent PLUS loans for an older child. A Parent PLUS loan is a parent loan, not the student’s.
Can we count pre-tax health insurance premiums as medical expenses? What about all premiums and procedures?
Include only what you pay out of pocket: your share of premiums plus costs insurance didn’t cover. Don’t include what your employer or insurer paid.
Submitting, IDOC, and Wet Signatures
Submitting the CSS Profile is only part of the process, because many schools also ask for documents. These answers cover signing and uploading your tax return, when your student gets the IDOC login, and how to avoid delays in financial aid.
Should I enter my SAI if it’s optional?
If you’ve already filed the FAFSA, enter it. If you haven’t, leave it blank and don’t hold up your CSS Profile.
What needs a wet signature? Our CPA e-filed, so the signature is electronic.
When IDOC, or a school that doesn’t use IDOC, asks you to upload your tax return, print the copy you filed, sign and date it by hand in pen, then scan and upload it. That’s how you handle a CPA-filed or e-filed return. Some non-IDOC schools will also ask you to print your student’s school ID on the tax return. Follow each school’s directions, whatever they require.
How and when does the student get the IDOC login?
After you submit the CSS Profile, College Board emails your student IDOC instructions if any of their schools use it. It usually arrives within a few days. Watch your student’s inbox and spam folder, since missing IDOC uploads can delay or reduce aid.
