How To Answer Parent Income Questions For CSS Profile®

Parent Income Details

This section walks you through entering your income from your tax return, line-by-line. Unlike the FAFSA, which can import Parent Tax Information directly, the CSS profile walks you through what information to include based on your tax return.

Important: This is the parent's tax return.

This guide is based on filing a U.S. tax return. If you file a foreign tax return, you'll have to use the information from your return. The 206-27 CSS Profile uses the 2024 tax year, so the line numbers correspond directly to the 2024 U.S. Form 1040. If you're filing the CSS profile for another year, you'll need to check for accuracy.

This is the largest section on the CSS profile. It's very easy to complete if you have a copy of your tax return with you while completing it. 

You'll also likely need a copy of your tax return to upload later.

How To Answer These Questions

Enter the information about each parent, one at a time. This includes their date of birth and contact information.

What is the amount listed on Line 11: Adjusted Gross Income

This is looking for your adjusted gross income from your tax return. Every person who files a tax return has an AGI.

Did you file any of the following forms (it's specifically asking for 1040 Schedule 3 - Additional Credits and Payments)

If you have this form on your tax return, mark Yes.

Enter Your Income From Lins 1-3

This is your main income. Enter Line 1z: Wages and earned income, Line 2a: Tax-Exempt Interest, Line 2b: Taxable Interest, and Line 3b: Ordinary Dividends.

Enter IRA Distributions, Line 4

If you took an IRA Distribution, you enter it here. Line 4a: IRA distributions, Amount of Rollover, and Line 4b: IRA, taxable amount.

Enter Pension and Annuities, Line 5

If you took money from a pension or annuity, you enter it here. Line 5a: Pensions and annuities, Amount of Rollover, Line 5b: Pensions and annuities, taxable amount.

Enter Social Security Benefits

If you receive Social Security benefits, report them here. Line 6a: Social Security benefits. Line 6b: Social Security benefits taxable amount.

Enter Capital Gains/Losses, Adjustments to Income, Standard or Itemized Deduction, and Qualified Business Income (QBI) Deduction.

This is a big one. Start withe Line 7: Capital Gains or Losses. Then enter Line 10: Adjustments to Income. Line 12 is either your Standard or Itemized Deduction. Line 13: Qualified Business Income Deduction.

Enter Federal Taxes Paid, Line 22

Enter Line 22: Federal Taxes Paid

Enter Taxable Refunds, Credits, or Offsets of Taxes, Schedule 1, Line 1-2:

Enter Schedule 1, Line 1: Taxable Refunds here.

Enter Alimony Received

Enter Schedule 1, Line 2a: Alimony Received

Enter Your Business Income

Enter Schedule 1, Line 3: Business Income (or Loss)

Enter Other Gains or losses

Enter Schedule 1, Line 4: Other Gains (or Losses)

Enter Rental Estate, Partnerships, S Corporations, and Trusts, and Farm Income Here

Enter Schedule 1, Line 5: Rental real estate, royalties, partnerships, S Corporations, trusts, etc. here

Enter Schedule 1, Line 6: Farm income (or loss)

If You Received Unemployment Compensation, Enter It Here

Enter Schedule 1, Line 7: Unemployment compensation

Foreign Income And Other Self Employment Items

Enter Schedule 1, Line 8d: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

Enter Schedule 1, Line 9: Total other income

Enter Schedule 1, Line 13: Health Savings Account Deduction

Enter Schedule 1, Line 16: Self Employed SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans

If You Paid Alimony, Enter It Here

Enter Schedule 1, Line 19a: Alimony Paid

If You Deducted A Traditional IRA, Enter It Here

Enter Schedule 1, Line 20: IRA Deduction

If You Claimed Any Education Credits, Enter It Here

Enter Schedule 3, Line 3: Education Credits

Reporting Your Business Income Sources

If you claimed income on Schedule 1, Line 5 from rental real estate or a business, you'll have to enter the sources.

Check the box: Rental Real Estate, Royalties, Partnerships, S-Corporations, Trust, Other

Reporting Income From Work

If you earned money specifically from work, you report that here separately. This includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions (usually reported on a W-2), but also earning not reported on a W-2, such as working for your own small business and reporting on a Schedule C.

Retirement And HSA Contributions

If you contributed money to a retirement plan from your paycheck, such as a 401k or 403b, report it here. Don't include retirement contributions you already reported (like SEP IRA).

If you contributed to an HSA, report it here. Do not report the deduction, just the contribution.

Social Security Benefits Received

If you received Social Security Benefits for dependents not enrolled in college for the 2026-27 academic year, report them here. Look at the amount in Box 5 on From 1099-SSA.

Housing, Food, And Living Allowances

If you received housing, food, and living allowance in 2024 as a member of the clergy or other profession, include it here. Military members and their families do NOT include on-base housing or Base Housing Allowance (BHA).

Other Untaxed Income

If you had other untaxed income in 2024, including Workers Compensation, Disability Benefits, Income From Other Families Members, report it here. This is different than the FAFSA, which typically doesn't include untaxed income.

This is where you'd also report untaxed military service benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, and other untaxed income and benefits.

Report Alimony Received

If you received alimony in 2024, report it here.

Can I Skip These Questions?

No, they are required.

Parent Estimated Income For 2025

Unlike the FAFSA, which only relies on past income, the CSS Profile asks for you to provide estimates for your current year income as well. This can be challenging for families.

Our recommendation is to use your best estimate. If your income is very similar to 2024, use that as a guide. If you know you received a 5% pay increase, bump up your 2024 income by 5%. Be reasonable. You are asked if there was a major change financially - so if you did experience job loss or other reason for major changes, ensure you check that box.

How To Answer These Questions

Enter the best estimate for 2025.

Income From Work

Include your estimate for the total 2025 calendar year for wages, salary, tips, and commissions.

Other Taxable Income

Enter your estimate for taxable income, including dividends and interest.

Untaxed Income And Benefits

Enter your estimate for untaxed income and benefits, similar to the questions you already answered for 2024.

Can I Skip These Questions?

No, they are required.

Parent Expected Changes

After estimating your 2025 income, you need to estimate if something will change in 2026.

How To Answer These Questions

Enter the best estimate for 2026 - next year.

Do you expect a significant income change in 2026 due to a new job, job loss, retirement, benefit change, etc?

Select Yes or No.

Can I Skip These Questions?

No, they are required.

Parent Benefits Received

Enter any federal or state benefits you received in 2024 or 2025. 

How To Answer These Questions

These questions are for benefits you received last year or this year.

Did you receive Supplemental Nutritional Assistance (SNAP), Food Stamps, or use EBT?

Did you receive Women's, Infants, Childrens (WIC) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program?

Did you receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Check the box if you received SSI, Medicaid, or Free or Reduced Lunch in 2024 or 2025?

Check any of the appropriate boxes if they apply.

Can I Skip These Questions?

Yes, if none of these apply.