Still unclear about something

[Don E 0]

Nope. When you e-file, there is no need to send in the W-2 or any hard copies of anything. Just sign in to either turbotax or taxact and give one a try. You don't pay anything until after you've completed the return and just before you're actually ready to "e-file".

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

The IRS does not need anything physical anymore. Some companies even have their W-2s electronic. The software will scan for a participating company and download all necessary information. The IRS has accepted completely paperless tax returns for quite a few years now.

Might sound like a dumb question.....but what about the W-2? These online filing sites do the filing for you, but the IRS doesn't receive a copy of your W-2? I've always filed through the mail because I thought the IRS needed a "physical" copy of your W-2.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Thanks again, everyone. feel so much better now.

[KGSodie 0]

I'm Johnny-come-lately to this thread, but I thought I'd add my thoughts anyway.

For the last 4 years I've used www.completetax.com. It's question-driven and your answers lead you to all of the relevant filing data that's needed. At the end of the session, your answers are analyzed and you are given tips to review (usually, tax-saving ideas implied by your answers). You get a summary of your return, and it will also give you a PDF of your entire return, with schedules (if any), that you can print. It is a pay service, however. I think my federal and state this year was something like $45. You don't have to fill out everything in one go either. Each set of related questions is presented on one page, and each page has a box you check for 'This page is now complete'. The menu has a summary of all pages not yet marked as complete so you can jump around however you need to. It's all very well done.

Our interview is after yours, but here is what I am bringing to Natasha:

copies of 1040 forms for tax years 2004-2007

W-2 (originals and copies) for tax years 2004-2007

Tax transcripts for tax years 2004-2006 (originals and copies) (2007 not available yet)

You can order the tax transcripts on the IRS web site, and for me they arrived very quickly (maybe 5 days from the day I ordered them). If you need a link and can't find one, I'll look it up again.

[slim 1,514]

YOU DO NOT NEED TAX TRANSCRIPTS!!!

I don't know why you guys are always thinking you need this stuff but you don't. That's mostly geared toward self-employed folks or those that are business owners and/or those who don't have a traditional W-2.

Jason, you're a classic example of a guy that was working his way through school or a young guy without a great job and now it's all coming together. All you need to do is show them proof that you're making that money NOW and will continue to make enough money in the future.

You should send-

Copy of W-2 (If available, if not send the 1040 print-out or something like that) for the previous 3 years. If you don't have three years, don't sweat it, send what you have. (Even if it's only 2007 W-2 and/or 1040.)

Check Stubs. (Send last three weeks or months or whatever. Just establish that what it says you make on your W-2 is supported by your check stubs.)

Letter from Employer. (This is the nail in the coffin. This is what says "Hey, I'm paying Jason $XX,XXX and he's going to be able to support Sasha. She's not going to be on Welfare." This is supported by your tax info, not the other way around.)

Letter from Bank. (This should say "Jason has a bank account that was opened on XX, and he carries a balance of $XXX. Don't even worry about how many XXX are in there, I didn't have a comma in mine when I sent it in. They just want to see that your employer pays you and you put that money in a bank and then you pay your bills.)

See the pattern here? The I-134 is actually a little too in-depth for a simple K-1. It's the same form they use when folks sponsor a team of workers or a company of techies or something like that. They're using it to prove they can support all these employees and you're using it to prove that you have an income and will be able to support your future wife. All you need to do is show them that you make some money (from you employer letter and check stubs, PROVEN by your W-2) and that you really do have this money (letter from the bank that if they really needed to, they could call and confirm.)

People get way too worried over this "financial proof" stuff. In reality, all you're saying to the embassy is that you're going to be able to provide for your fiancee financially when she gets here. Remember, this isn't a tax audit. The only reason you're sending tax info is so the govt. has "proof" that you make money.

Paint the picture. They want to see 125% of the poverty level... show it to them. Don't worry about the technicalities of sending this or that. Send them three or four documents from different sources (IRS, Employer, Pay company or employers bank on your checks, Your bank, etc.) and they should have more than enough "proof."

Don't sweat it all man... You're almost done!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Thanks Slim! Sorry for the continued confusion. i think I'm back on track now.

[KGSodie 0]

Slim - I tried patiently explaining to Natasha about the difference between needed and unneeded documents, but as far as she is concerned, if it's listed in the instructions it is NEEDED. They were free to get, so I sent for them. They'll make the round trip to Moscow with me, and probably never see the light of day, but I don't care. If it gives Natasha peace of mind, then I'm all for it!

[payxibka 10,045]

Yup. Once you file (I typically use taxACT or TurboTax online for free), they provide you with a PDF version of your return. Just print that off, add your W2s, and you should be good to go.

Since the interview is so close to tax time, they can't expect you to have an official transcript from the IRS for the 2007 tax year.

Just another question......to anyone who can answer. Are these websites the best for instant E-filing? Or should i use IRS.gov? I'm thinking maybe IRS.gov because the return I'll print out will be from the IRS, and not an online tax preparer. But I'm not sure.

When yo ugo to irs.gov they essentially provide you links to third party software providers, so there really is no printing your return from the IRS...

[slim 1,514]

as far as she is concerned, if

Sounds like you've already figured out the secret to a good marriage.

"You're wrong but I'll do it anyway."

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

:lol:

as far as she is concerned, if

Sounds like you've already figured out the secret to a good marriage.

"You're wrong but I'll do it anyway."

[KGSodie 0]

as far as she is concerned, if

Sounds like you've already figured out the secret to a good marriage.

"You're wrong but I'll do it anyway."

LOL slim, excellent that you understood me there! The way I figure it, if it's something I don't really care about, her way is just as good as my way!

[Jason-Sasha 1]

9 more days until Sasha's interview! This is killing us!!!

[KGSodie 0]

I understand your feelings Jason. 14 days for us. I really need to find some time to go over all the documents I'm taking with me to hand over to Natasha for her interview. Been so busy getting things ready around the house that I haven't even opened the binder for 2 weeks! Being busy though definitely helps the time go by faster, and as unnoticed as possible.

[Gringita/Morenito 0]

Best of luck to you guys for the interviews coming soon!!!!