I-864/Taxes

[LeprechaunSean 0]

So I'm doing up my I-864, and of course part of it is having your last three years taxes. I've never done taxes in the US before, so I was just going to go to some tax place around here and get it done, but I was wondering how hard it is to do yourself. Keep in mind I know nothing about american taxes.....

also, if I'm filing this AOS for my wife and son as the american petitioner/supporter, will it matter if all the money I've earned has been in canada? I've got a good paying job here in the US and can show that, but I've only been here for a month.

[trailmix 77]

Well I never had either and I did them - it's not hard once you understand what you are doing - however you have to do the reading before you understand what you are doing!

Basically - assuming you have no income other than employment income - you do a 1040 or 1040ez - then a 2555 to exclude your foreign income.

I would say if you normally do your own Canadian taxes, you should have no problem - but again, you have to read the instructions - which are incredibly boring.

Here is a link to the prior years forms http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=98339,00.html

Oh and do read the instructions for mailing for each, each year can have a different address for out of country returns. Now when I talked to the IRS they said they were going to have them all sent to the Austin location, I believe - so the instructions for mailing may now be wrong. Once you complete them I would call the IRS and confirm the mailing address for each year.

I'm unsure about the employment income question - with your solid Canadian returns it should be ok. They do look at those, I assume it proves that you actually do work and can actually make money.

Edited August 11, 2009 by trailmix

[LeprechaunSean 0]

Well I never had either and I did them - it's not hard once you understand what you are doing - however you have to do the reading before you understand what you are doing!

Basically - assuming you have no income other than employment income - you do a 1040 or 1040ez - then a 2555 to exclude your foreign income.

I would say if you normally do your own Canadian taxes, you should have no problem - but again, you have to read the instructions - which are incredibly boring.

Here is a link to the prior years forms http://www.irs.gov/formspubs/article/0,,id=98339,00.html

Oh and do read the instructions for mailing for each, each year can have a different address for out of country returns. Now when I talked to the IRS they said they were going to have them all sent to the Austin location, I believe - so the instructions for mailing may now be wrong. Once you complete them I would call the IRS and confirm the mailing address for each year.

I'm unsure about the employment income question - with your solid Canadian returns it should be ok. They do look at those, I assume it proves that you actually do work and can actually make money.

I don't do my own taxes, not that I couldn't figure it out if I applied myself too it, just that I've used accountants for it for the last 10 years, and it's always paid off...I'll probably do the lazy thing and just get someone to do them for me here. I'm too tired to try and wade through boring legal mumbo jumbo nowadays....Man I can't wait until this interview is over and we can relax. I hate stress. I'm actually a really laid back guy, and this immigration stuff if killin me. Ah well.

[trailmix 77]

I don't do my own taxes, not that I couldn't figure it out if I applied myself too it, just that I've used accountants for it for the last 10 years, and it's always paid off...I'll probably do the lazy thing and just get someone to do them for me here. I'm too tired to try and wade through boring legal mumbo jumbo nowadays....Man I can't wait until this interview is over and we can relax. I hate stress. I'm actually a really laid back guy, and this immigration stuff if killin me. Ah well.

Don't blame you

Edited August 17, 2009 by trailmix

[carvin317 0]

Turbo Tax will change your life

[trailmix 77]

Turbo Tax will change your life

Yes, it will turn you from a stressed out immigration applicant to a stressed out tax preparer.

[thetreble 19]

Turbo Tax will change your life

Yes, it will turn you from a stressed out immigration applicant to a stressed out tax preparer.

Yes!

I don't know. A tax accountant does it for a living..I figure rather him than me.