Can anyone translate this?

[ponyespresso 0]

I am in the process for filing an I-130 for my wife (I'm a USC, my wife is British, our story is here

As part of the upcoming process, the I-864 asks that you submit previous years tax returns. I haven't been filing though, so here is the e-mail I sent to the IRS office of the US embassy in London, hoping to get some clarification:

"Hello,

I am a US Citizen who moved to the UK in January 2002, and have been living and working here continuously since that time. As such, I was

under the impression that I no longer had to file any Federal Tax Returns.

Now, my wife and I are considering moving back to the US next year. My wife is British so we are looking to start her visa application

soon, part of which includes providing income details via Federal Tax Returns. In short, it looks like I need to file Tax Returns for 2005,

2006 and 2007.

My first question is, do I need to file for years earlier than 2005?

Next, do I need to file the form 4868, the application for automatic extension of time to file, along with my tax returns?

Lastly, do I need to include any cover letter or other forms with my Tax Returns explaining my situation and my reasons for not filing

sooner?

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice

Glenn Elliott"

And now, their response (hand over heart, this is just cut and paste, no editing on my part at all)

"Glenn

Response to your queries is No, No and No.

Respectfully,"

That's it. That was my response.

So, can anyone translate, are they really saying "No", I don't need to file anything else, no extensions, no explanation letter, no nothing, just the 1040NR for 2007, 2006 and 2005?

Many thanks in advance for your input!

Edited November 23, 2008 by ponyespresso

[SunDrop 59]

I am in the process for filing an I-130 for my wife (I'm a USC, my wife is British, our story is here

As part of the upcoming process, the I-864 asks that you submit previous years tax returns. I haven't been filing though, so here is the e-mail I sent to the IRS office of the US embassy in London, hoping to get some clarification:

"Hello,

I am a US Citizen who moved to the UK in January 2002, and have been living and working here continuously since that time. As such, I was

under the impression that I no longer had to file any Federal Tax Returns.

Now, my wife and I are considering moving back to the US next year. My wife is British so we are looking to start her visa application

soon, part of which includes providing income details via Federal Tax Returns. In short, it looks like I need to file Tax Returns for 2005,

2006 and 2007.

My first question is, do I need to file for years earlier than 2005?

Next, do I need to file the form 4868, the application for automatic extension of time to file, along with my tax returns?

Lastly, do I need to include any cover letter or other forms with my Tax Returns explaining my situation and my reasons for not filing

sooner?

Many thanks in advance for your help and advice

Glenn Elliott"

And now, their response (hand over heart, this is just cut and paste, no editing on my part at all)

"Glenn

Response to your queries is No, No and No.

Respectfully,"

That's it. That was my response.

So, can anyone translate, are they really saying "No", I don't need to file anything else, no extensions, no explanation letter, no nothing, just the 1040NR for 2007, 2006 and 2005?

Many thanks in advance for your input!

LOL. OK, my translation of this is:

No, you don't need to file tax returns for years earlier than 2005. Equally, you do not need to apply for an automatic extension, nor do you need a covering letter.

However, I would include a print out of the email with the responses!

At least it was straight forward!

[kaffy 2]

So, can anyone translate, are they really saying "No", I don't need to file anything else, no extensions, no explanation letter, no nothing, just the 1040NR for 2007, 2006 and 2005?

Yes, I think that is what they are saying

[MargotDarko 0]

Hehe. Short and sweet! You are correct - they are saying you do not have to do any of those things. Back file for 2005, 06, and 07 only and no need to for the form asking for an extension. There's also no need for explanation. I would wager that half or more of the returns they see are crazy late because so many Americans abroad do not know they need to continue filing tax returns.

You will however need the 2555 along with the 1040 in order to exclude your foreign income. I believe the exclusion is up to something like $83,000 USD equiv now.

[ponyespresso 0]

You will however need the 2555 along with the 1040 in order to exclude your foreign income. I believe the exclusion is up to something like $83,000 USD equiv now.

Would I need to do the 2555 for each year as well then?

[MargotDarko 0]

You will however need the 2555 along with the 1040 in order to exclude your foreign income. I believe the exclusion is up to something like $83,000 USD equiv now.

Would I need to do the 2555 for each year as well then?

Yep, for each year that you earned foreign income, you'll include the 2555 with the 1040.

[ponyespresso 0]

Yep, for each year that you earned foreign income, you'll include the 2555 with the 1040.

Cheers for that

On a totally unrelated topic.........how do you get your timeline onto your profile? I've searched the Help topics but I just can't seem to crack it

[chartreuse 0]

On a totally unrelated topic.........how do you get your timeline onto your profile? I've searched the Help topics but I just can't seem to crack it

Click on "My Assistant" in the light blue bar, then "Add / Edit my Timeline".

On the tax returns thing, you might want to just take all three years into the IRS at Grosvenor Square in person. They'll most likely process them while you wait, then stamp the photocopies of the 1040s that you'll bring with you (you only need the top sheet for stamping, but I usually keep the whole thing on file) and you'll be sorted.