Check refound for couples

[malego77 2]

Sorry by the double post. I posted in the bad side before.

Here are my questions:

I have heard something related with the economic stimulus that the goverment will give to the married couples in May/Jun.

-But I don't know how does it work??

-How can I know if we will get the stimulus?

-There are some restrictions like the time that we are married?

We are married since January 2008. My husband only work for 3 months in 2007 and he has his W2 (these w2 are for a little amount like 650 dlls). We're thinking to file like spouses togheter but I don't know if we can do it because we got married after 2007. I would like to do the income togheter because when I will be removing conditions it would be a good evidence I think...

What your opinion about?

[nana_356 0]

This is a quoted from lucyrich, I asked the same question before, so here you go!!

See IRS Publication 519, the tax guide for aliens. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

There's a whole list of steps there which determine whether you're a resident alien or a nonresident alien. A nonresident alien generally can't file a joint return.

But even if you would otherwise be considered a nonresident alien, you can choose to be treated as a resident alien. See the "nonresident spouse treated as resident" section on page 10 for instructions on how to make this choice. It will allow you to file a joint return.

If you don't already have and aren't yet eligible for a social security number, you'll have to include a W-7 to apply for an ITIN. But be careful, if you file a joint return without an actual social security number, neither of you will be eligible for this year's $600 economic stimulus rebate. This year, some couples might be better of filing as "married filing separately" to get the rebate rather than filing a joint return to take advantage of the lower rates and higher standard deduction. "

"

Edited March 30, 2008 by nana_356

[malego77 2]

This is a quoted from lucyrich, I asked the same question before, so here you go!!

See IRS Publication 519, the tax guide for aliens. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

There's a whole list of steps there which determine whether you're a resident alien or a nonresident alien. A nonresident alien generally can't file a joint return.

But even if you would otherwise be considered a nonresident alien, you can choose to be treated as a resident alien. See the "nonresident spouse treated as resident" section on page 10 for instructions on how to make this choice. It will allow you to file a joint return.

If you don't already have and aren't yet eligible for a social security number, you'll have to include a W-7 to apply for an ITIN. But be careful, if you file a joint return without an actual social security number, neither of you will be eligible for this year's $600 economic stimulus rebate. This year, some couples might be better of filing as "married filing separately" to get the rebate rather than filing a joint return to take advantage of the lower rates and higher standard deduction. "

"

I already have my SSN. But I'm not a legal resident of US yet. How can we file separately if I didn't have any income? I came here in Jan 2008.

[웃 910]

The stimulus checks are for income earned in 2007. If your husband earned more than $3,000 then he will most likely receive a $600 check. But he cannot be claimed as a dependent by his parents or anyone else. GL

[TinTin and Samby 11]

malego77, unfortunately all of this information regarding the rebate is not applicable to you, your icome or your future effect on your now husband's tax filing status. You guys were not married until Jan 2008. The Tax returns being filed now (until Aril 15, 2008), that may qualify the filer for a economic stimulaus tax rebate are for the tax year of 2007, which ended on December 31, 2007. In order to qualify for the maximum $600 tax rebate, you have to file your 2007 tax returns as MARRIED STATUS - something you can not do since you were not married on or before December 31, 2007. Whether your husband is eligible for a smaller tax rebate as a SINGLE STATUS filer, will depend on his meeting the requirements.

Warm Regards,

Samby

[malego77 2]

malego77, unfortunately all of this information regarding the rebate is not applicable to you, your icome or your future effect on your now husband's tax filing status. You guys were not married until Jan 2008. The Tax returns being filed now (until Aril 15, 2008), that may qualify the filer for a economic stimulaus tax rebate are for the tax year of 2007, which ended on December 31, 2007. In order to qualify for the maximum $600 tax rebate, you have to file your 2007 tax returns as MARRIED STATUS - something you can not do since you were not married on or before December 31, 2007. Whether your husband is eligible for a smaller tax rebate as a SINGLE STATUS filer, will depend on his meeting the requirements.

Warm Regards,

Samby

Hi, so, if we already filed for 2007 as married is it wrong? Will he still qualify for a rebate as single status if we filed togheter??

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

malego77, unfortunately all of this information regarding the rebate is not applicable to you, your icome or your future effect on your now husband's tax filing status. You guys were not married until Jan 2008. The Tax returns being filed now (until Aril 15, 2008), that may qualify the filer for a economic stimulaus tax rebate are for the tax year of 2007, which ended on December 31, 2007. In order to qualify for the maximum $600 tax rebate, you have to file your 2007 tax returns as MARRIED STATUS - something you can not do since you were not married on or before December 31, 2007. Whether your husband is eligible for a smaller tax rebate as a SINGLE STATUS filer, will depend on his meeting the requirements.

Warm Regards,

Samby

Hi, so, if we already filed for 2007 as married is it wrong? Will he still qualify for a rebate as single status if we filed togheter??

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

[mawilson 2,133]

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

Yep. You got married in January, so the only "stimulus" you'll be getting this year is from your husband.

[malego77 2]

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

Yep. You got married in January, so the only "stimulus" you'll be getting this year is from your husband.

Oh!! But in terms of the IRS is it wrong to file as married if we got married until jan 2008? Or it will be OK? I already have my SSN and my EAD...

[no name 1]

But in terms of the IRS is it wrong to file as married if we got married until jan 2008? O

Yes it's wrong, because you were not married in 2007.

[mawilson 2,133]

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

Yep. You got married in January, so the only "stimulus" you'll be getting this year is from your husband.

Oh!! But in terms of the IRS is it wrong to file as married if we got married until jan 2008? Or it will be OK? I already have my SSN and my EAD...

You can't. If you were not married on Dec 31, 2007 (last day of the tax year), you cannot file a married-joint return (or married filing separately for that matter.)

Edited March 31, 2008 by mawilson

[Dan J 277]

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

Yep. You got married in January, so the only "stimulus" you'll be getting this year is from your husband.

Oh!! But in terms of the IRS is it wrong to file as married if we got married until jan 2008? Or it will be OK? I already have my SSN and my EAD...

You have to be married by the end of the year to qualify for filing as married for that years taxes. If you have file as married, your husband will need to amend the return to file as single. The tax bracket is diffrent for married couples and he does not qualify for it. You will qualify for married status for 2008 taxes filed next year.

[simple_male 1]

according to your timeline, he entered the poe on 2008-01-04 with a marriage of 2008-01-04.

so no, you should not have filed married on your 2007 income tax as the status you hold on 31 dec 07 is what is effective.

Yep. You got married in January, so the only "stimulus" you'll be getting this year is from your husband.

Oh!! But in terms of the IRS is it wrong to file as married if we got married until jan 2008? Or it will be OK? I already have my SSN and my EAD...

You can file as married joint return for your 2008 tax return which you will have to do it next year, 2009 (from January to April 15). Fed is giving stimulus payment on tax year 2007. Based on your information you were not married on Dec 31, 2007.

[PlatyPius 5]

Yup, you are currently in "Audit" territory now, where the IRS can seize all of your assets and all kinds of fun stuff....all because he lied on his tax return.

[malego77 2]

Wow. Little big details... Neither my husband and I never have filed a income tax before, and the person who help us to do it didn't ask for the date of our marriage... Now I'm starting to worry about something will outcome wrong.