tax papers for naturalization process

[Captain Oates 911]

I am still a year off so no rush !

But i like to get prepared in good time so I am trying to learn as much as poss in advance

I see people refer to 3 years tax returns being required at the interview ?

Is this the applicants copies of what they submitted or do they have to apply to the IRS for some sort of certified copy of their returns as received by the IRS ?

many thanks

Alan

[Tini27 0]

I am still a year off so no rush !

But i like to get prepared in good time so I am trying to learn as much as poss in advance

I see people refer to 3 years tax returns being required at the interview ?

Is this the applicants copies of what they submitted or do they have to apply to the IRS for some sort of certified copy of their returns as received by the IRS ?

many thanks

Alan

Hey Alan, You can order them free of charge by calling the IRS.Their automated voice system takes care of everything and you get them in the mail within 2 weeks. Ask for tax return transcripts. They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

[I Miss Her 0]

I am still a year off so no rush !

But i like to get prepared in good time so I am trying to learn as much as poss in advance

I see people refer to 3 years tax returns being required at the interview ?

Is this the applicants copies of what they submitted or do they have to apply to the IRS for some sort of certified copy of their returns as received by the IRS ?

many thanks

Alan

It is better to have up to last five years of tax return (as applicable); even last three years are OK.

Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information?

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

[Captain Oates 911]

I am still a year off so no rush !

But i like to get prepared in good time so I am trying to learn as much as poss in advance

I see people refer to 3 years tax returns being required at the interview ?

Is this the applicants copies of what they submitted or do they have to apply to the IRS for some sort of certified copy of their returns as received by the IRS ?

many thanks

Alan

Hey Alan, You can order them free of charge by calling the IRS.Their automated voice system takes care of everything and you get them in the mail within 2 weeks. Ask for tax return transcripts. They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

yaberdabber that's great - So the transcripts will be fine - they just want to know you have filed and don't owe basically.

I will be filing in august time next year ! 2010 (I am in advance !)

so i will submit 2009/2008/2007 at that time excellent

My only proof of paying right now is the photo of the paid cheque on my bank statement so i wondered how you got proof

Now i know

Thanks v muchly sir !

All I have to do now is convince him that 'ee bye gum look sharp lad' is proper English

excellent

Alan

[Captain Oates 911]

I am still a year off so no rush !

But i like to get prepared in good time so I am trying to learn as much as poss in advance

I see people refer to 3 years tax returns being required at the interview ?

Is this the applicants copies of what they submitted or do they have to apply to the IRS for some sort of certified copy of their returns as received by the IRS ?

many thanks

Alan

It is better to have up to last five years of tax return (as applicable); even last three years are OK.

Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information?

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

oh wow thank you it just keeps getting better and better.. Alan

[NickD 202]

I submitted four years of returns, IO commented on that in a negative way, you only need three. Since I do my own taxes, did bring along the originals with the IRS joint return labels pasted on them and all the W-2's and 1099's, I don't even send the originals to the IRS, just copies, no problems with the IRS. But did bring those originals along with us, no problems with that. We put our original signatures and dates on each copy that makes them legal.

IRS does have a toll free number to call for transcripts, 1-888 something, ha, would have to look up the last seven digits.

[Captain Oates 911]

I submitted four years of returns, IO commented on that in a negative way, you only need three. Since I do my own taxes, did bring along the originals with the IRS joint return labels pasted on them and all the W-2's and 1099's, I don't even send the originals to the IRS, just copies, no problems with the IRS. But did bring those originals along with us, no problems with that. We put our original signatures and dates on each copy that makes them legal.

IRS does have a toll free number to call for transcripts, 1-888 something, ha, would have to look up the last seven digits.

I will make a note of that too as I always get a return confirmation card when I mail my tax returns in

When I was on a police advanced driving course in 1969, they would actually fail you if you indicated before turning when there were no other cars around. They said it proved you were not aware of what traffic was around you and you wouldnt need to indicate if you were fully aware there was no other traffic.

I drove like that for decades, much to the annoyance of my passengers. Now I have reverted to indicating all the time as it costs nothing, and it's better to be sure, and everyone makes mistakes..

So same thing with this documentation - it costs nothing to take a lot more than is strictly necessary, so I will take everything I can think off

[motu 5]

They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

Incorrect. They can be your copies. I use online tax-preparation services (Tax Act and Turbo tax) and just print out a copy for me and send a copy of that - I have done it for the K1, AOS, Removal and now for the citizenship - I never sent certified copies or IRS transcripts. My copies don't even have a signature (I file electronically). Never had a problem. Good Luck

[Captain Oates 911]

They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

Incorrect. They can be your copies. I use online tax-preparation services (Tax Act and Turbo tax) and just print out a copy for me and send a copy of that - I have done it for the K1, AOS, Removal and now for the citizenship - I never sent certified copies or IRS transcripts. My copies don't even have a signature (I file electronically). Never had a problem. Good Luck

Interesting - but as your interview is not until May 5 2009, are you sure it will work this time ?

[Tini27 0]

They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

Incorrect. They can be your copies. I use online tax-preparation services (Tax Act and Turbo tax) and just print out a copy for me and send a copy of that - I have done it for the K1, AOS, Removal and now for the citizenship - I never sent certified copies or IRS transcripts. My copies don't even have a signature (I file electronically). Never had a problem. Good Luck

Maybe you were lucky?? or your IO was trustful? I am not sure this is a rule though because I remember I was told at my last interview AOS that a copy of my tax papers did not actually mean I had filed since it hadn't gone through IRS yet. That's why the document checklist says: transcripts or certified copies. In any case, I'd advise going the safe way, you never know:)

)

[seakayaker 16]

Has anyone here tried to order the transcripts over the phone? I just got lost in the automated menu system... any hints as to how to find the transcripts section is greatly appreciated. (I called 1 800 829 1040).

Thanks!

[NickD 202]

A copy of your returns may be okay, but to make them legal, both you and your spouse have to sign and date them, date should correspond to the original. We never signed the original tax forms, because a copy of your signatures is not legal. But my wife's IO kept my originals anyway because of the label, that teed me off. She could see they are identical and neither the feds nor or state objected to our signed copies. If I do get called in for an audit, can only tell them to go to the USCIS to get those originals. Too damned many different agencies for one family to deal with. But she passed and got her certificate if that is any proof.

[Captain Oates 911]

Has anyone here tried to order the transcripts over the phone? I just got lost in the automated menu system... any hints as to how to find the transcripts section is greatly appreciated. (I called 1 800 829 1040).

Thanks!

This is the easiest way I reckon

Need a Copy of Your Tax Return Information?

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=110571,00.html

[motu 5]

They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

Incorrect. They can be your copies. I use online tax-preparation services (Tax Act and Turbo tax) and just print out a copy for me and send a copy of that - I have done it for the K1, AOS, Removal and now for the citizenship - I never sent certified copies or IRS transcripts. My copies don't even have a signature (I file electronically). Never had a problem. Good Luck

Maybe you were lucky?? or your IO was trustful? I am not sure this is a rule though because I remember I was told at my last interview AOS that a copy of my tax papers did not actually mean I had filed since it hadn't gone through IRS yet. That's why the document checklist says: transcripts or certified copies. In any case, I'd advise going the safe way, you never know:)

)

I am also a naturalized citizen and yes - for my citizenship I just used the copies that I printed out (nothing official or certified). And try as I might, I see nowhere on N-400 or its instructions where it asks for 'official or certified tax returns'. I often either didn't have the time to order or couldn't find the number to order the transcripts or just plain forgot it - but in any case from my own case I learned that a certified copy was not needed and have not used it for my wife's K1, AOS, Removal or citizenship. Good Luck

[Captain Oates 911]

They have to be from the IRS. They cannot be copies of what you sent. Also, there are other optons: copies and certified copies which you have t pay for so be sure you are ordering the right ones. Also, be sure to have the latest 3 years (including 2008). If you haven't yet filed for this year, wait until you do. Cheers!

Incorrect. They can be your copies. I use online tax-preparation services (Tax Act and Turbo tax) and just print out a copy for me and send a copy of that - I have done it for the K1, AOS, Removal and now for the citizenship - I never sent certified copies or IRS transcripts. My copies don't even have a signature (I file electronically). Never had a problem. Good Luck

Maybe you were lucky?? or your IO was trustful? I am not sure this is a rule though because I remember I was told at my last interview AOS that a copy of my tax papers did not actually mean I had filed since it hadn't gone through IRS yet. That's why the document checklist says: transcripts or certified copies. In any case, I'd advise going the safe way, you never know:)

)

I am also a naturalized citizen and yes - for my citizenship I just used the copies that I printed out (nothing official or certified). And try as I might, I see nowhere on N-400 or its instructions where it asks for 'official or certified tax returns'. I often either didn't have the time to order or couldn't find the number to order the transcripts or just plain forgot it - but in any case from my own case I learned that a certified copy was not needed and have not used it for my wife's K1, AOS, Removal or citizenship. Good Luck

Am I reading your signature timeline wrongly as I reading that your citizenship interview is May 2009 ?