Taxes

[dude9er 0]

I removed the conditions off my residency back in August. I have been working in the US for three years now and just had a revelation. We all pay into SSI and Medical and can't claim either until we have been here for ten years or work a certain amount of hours. I was wondering, do we HAVE to pay these taxes as green card holders? Or are these taxes optional? What taxes do we have to pay by law?

This is an afterthought after all these years of being gouged by taxes. If we are not required to pay certain taxes and have, can we get this money back?

Thanks in advance!!!

[imailin 0]

I removed the conditions off my residency back in August. I have been working in the US for three years now and just had a revelation. We all pay into SSI and Medical and can't claim either until we have been here for ten years or work a certain amount of hours. I was wondering, do we HAVE to pay these taxes as green card holders? Or are these taxes optional? What taxes do we have to pay by law?

This is an afterthought after all these years of being gouged by taxes. If we are not required to pay certain taxes and have, can we get this money back?

Thanks in advance!!!

Wish I could help, but I do not know the answer, I dont understand your question... I am a green card holder even though I am waiting for my I751 aproval I pay taxes every year just like anyone else in this country....

Edited March 5, 2008 by imailin

[Kez/JWolf 6]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

[YuAndDan 153]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

Actualy if you claim NON-Resident you will do more than screw up the ability to naturalize, the green-card can be revoked.

Maintaining Permanent Residence You may lose your permanent residence status if you commit an act that makes you removable from the United States under the law in section 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. If you commit such an act, you may be brought before the immigration courts to determine your right to remain a Permanent Resident.

You may be found to have abandoned your permanent resident status if you:

• Move to another country intending to live there permanently.

• Remain outside of the US for more than one year without obtaining a reentry permit or returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

• Remain outside of the US for more than two years after issuance of a reentry permit without obtaining a returning resident visa. However in determining whether your status has been abandoned any length of absence from the US may be considered, even if it is less than one year.

• Fail to file income tax returns while living outside of the US for any period.

• Declare yourself a “nonimmigrant” on your tax returns.

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/men...00045f3d6a1RCRD

If you become a US Citizen, you can get more benefit from the taxes that you are paying.

10 good reasons to naturalize:

Here is a list I found:

1. A Citizen Can Vote

   A citizen has the right to vote for elected officials at the federal, state and local levels who shape the policy of the government.

2. Dual Citizenship (Canadians Can Do This)

   Certain countries, including Ireland and the United Kingdom, recognize "dual citizenship" permitting naturalized U.S. citizens to maintain their citizenship of birth and original passport.

3. Citizens Can Bring More Relatives From Abroad, More Quickly

   Citizens can petition for a wider variety of family members to come to the US as permanent residents. They also have much shorter waiting times for green cards, and no limits.

4. Citizens Cannot be Deported

   Most of us never expect to commit a crime, but if we are the victims of circumstance, in the wrong place at the wrong time, as citizens, we cannot be deported. We also don't need to worry about a lost green card or too-long stay outside the US preventing us from re-entering.

5. Citizens Can Retire Abroad With Full Social Security Benefits

   Citizens who retire abroad get all their Social Security benefits. Green card holders only get half of the benefits they earned.

6. Citizens are Entitled to More Public Benefits

   Citizens are eligible for more public benefits, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Food Stamps, as well as certain academic scholarships and financial aid.

7. A US Citizen Can Hold Office and Have More Job Opportunities

   Only a citizen has the right to hold an elected position in most city, state or federal offices. Many federal, state and city jobs also require citizenship.

8. Adopted or Natural Children Under 18 May be Naturalized Automatically

   Depending on the circumstances, children born abroad, who are under 18 years of age and unmarried may be able to naturalize automatically when a parent does so.

9. Citizens Have More Financial and Tax Benefits

   Citizens often receive approval on loans andmortgages more easily, and/or they get better rates, because the lender knows there is less chance they will defect. Citizens are often subject to fewer restrictions on estate taxes as well.

10. Citizens Don't Have to Worry About Renewing a Green Card Every 10 Years

    We have enough to worry about with passports and other paperwork. As citizens, we don't have to worry about renewing a green cards every ten years.

http://immigration.about.com/od/whybecomea...0CitizenBen.htm

Canadians can maintain Canadian citizenship (Dual Citizenship)

[desert_fox 32]

I removed the conditions off my residency back in August. I have been working in the US for three years now and just had a revelation. We all pay into SSI and Medical and can't claim either until we have been here for ten years or work a certain amount of hours. I was wondering, do we HAVE to pay these taxes as green card holders? Or are these taxes optional? What taxes do we have to pay by law?

This is an afterthought after all these years of being gouged by taxes. If we are not required to pay certain taxes and have, can we get this money back?

Thanks in advance!!!

What do you mean by CLAIM??

You will pay into SSI and MediCare your entire working career....withholding is required by law.

You will be able to receive SS benefits as early as age 62 if you want a reduced amout.

At age 65, MediCare will be your primary medical insurance and any other insurance that you have will be secondary.

Edited March 5, 2008 by desert_fox

[raymaga 25]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

I only work 2 to 3 days per week, so how long will I have to work in order to be eligible for SSI or Medicare, etc?

[payxibka 10,045]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

I only work 2 to 3 days per week, so how long will I have to work in order to be eligible for SSI or Medicare, etc?

40 quarters of work is 40 quarters of work.... doesn't matter if it is FT or PT.... the difference will be the amount of the benefit.

[desert_fox 32]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

I only work 2 to 3 days per week, so how long will I have to work in order to be eligible for SSI or Medicare, etc?

You will need forty credits to be eligible...you can earn 4 credits a year max.

Each credit requires that you earn $1000 a quarter. Even is eligible, you wil continue to pay if you are working. This is nothing optional.

[YuAndDan 153]

If you are a resident of this country then you have to pay the federal tax that has been set... some states also have a tax.... if you try to claim to be a non-resident alien for tax reason when you are resident then you will screw yourself up if you wish to become a citizen....

The reason you can not claim SSI or Medicare until you have worked for 40 quarters or 10 years is that it will take that long for you to pay enough in to be able to claim anything back....

Kez

I only work 2 to 3 days per week, so how long will I have to work in order to be eligible for SSI or Medicare, etc?

40 quarters, the cool thing about this is you only have to work 1 day per quarter to be counted for working for the whole quarter.

[desert_fox 32]

40 quarters, the cool thing about this is you only have to work 1 day per quarter to be counted for working for the whole quarter.

Only if you earn $1000 in one day.

You need to earn $1000 per quarter in order to receive a credit.