Do tax returns need to be notarized?

[Leo&Farah 0]

Based on post #3 on this thread:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=207678

I'm confused, didn't think that was necessary.

[BrianandMerne 3]

No there isn't any need to. Brian's employer however had it done anyhow. I suppose it is a standard operating procedure for their company. His letter of employment and his affidavit of support had graciously been notarized by his company's HR manager for him. But back to your question, no there isn't any need to notarize it anymore unlike in the past. I read it in the instruction of filling out the I-134.

[Leo&Farah 0]

Thank you. That's good to know. Saves us a lot of hassle.

[BrianandMerne 3]

True. What I learned from a lawyer we both know is that when checking data before was a bit task-intensive, all proof are needing no notarization due the online information being put together now are just a click or two away from any consulate around the world to do.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

In most states, a notary has little legal authority beyond being able to 'officially' witness a signature. So, when someone in the US says a document needs to be notarized, they usually mean the signature needs to be witnessed by a notary. The notary will verify the identification of the person signing the document, and then place their stamp on the document certifying that the person indicated was the person who actually signed the document. The notary stamp is a certification of the signature and NOT the document. The notary has no idea if the document you're signing is authentic.

There would be little point in getting a tax return notarized. If you used e-file, as most people do now, then the document isn't going to have a signature on it. If you mailed a paper return to the IRS, then you would have had to get the return notarized at the time you signed it to send to the IRS. The IRS doesn't require this, and I doubt anyone would do this in anticipation of having to use the document later for immigration purposes. Besides, even having the signature notarized doesn't prove that the numbers on the form weren't fabricated. Anybody can download a copy of a blank 1040 from the IRS web site, fill in any numbers they like, and then sign it in front of notary. This is why they want the W2's and 1099's - to confirm that the numbers on the tax return match the actual income.

I think the OP in that other thread was confused. If you didn't file a return, then the consulate wants a letter from the petitioner stating why a tax return did not need to be filed. I think the letter may have been what they wanted notarized.

[Leo&Farah 0]

Well that's a relief.

We're gonna be getting tax transcripts as well as the tax filed online at turbo tax with the W2's. Getting the transcript because he does not have a 1099 and I read somewhere they sometimes ask for it. But he doesn't NEED one afaik.

So with all this tax confusing stuff going around, a tax transcript seems safest, just did not know if either of them needed for some reason to be notarized.

Thanks for clearing things up.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

Most banks usually have notaries that will notarize your stuff with free, granted that you can prove you have an account with them...that's what I've been doing. Better than paying for it!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Well that's a relief.

We're gonna be getting tax transcripts as well as the tax filed online at turbo tax with the W2's. Getting the transcript because he does not have a 1099 and I read somewhere they sometimes ask for it. But he doesn't NEED one afaik.

So with all this tax confusing stuff going around, a tax transcript seems safest, just did not know if either of them needed for some reason to be notarized.

Thanks for clearing things up.

Transcripts are generally better because it's a document from the IRS that shows the actual numbers they recorded from the tax return. Transcripts are often also less paper than an actual tax return.

You only get 1099's for certain type of income and payments other than wages. For example, a company might give you a 1099 for consulting fees they paid you. Or, if you had income from sales of stocks then you'd get a 1099 from your stock broker. You also get a 1099 from a mortgage bank if you paid interest on a mortgage, since mortgage interest on your primary home is deductible. In other words, a 1099 is a form you receive from somebody else and include with your tax return - like a W2. A 1099 is not a form you fill out yourself.

[Leo&Farah 0]

Figured it was for those non typical wage income earners. He does not have one. Also getting the transcript because everyone is saying the magic number to look for on the 1040 is line 22 and that number cannot be right at all on his turbo tax.

We filled up a 1040EZ so no idea if the line 22 thing is for regular 1040's. In anycase, a transcript seems to be the way to go. Less headache trying to sort through all these technicalities. Dump it in their hands and be done with it.

Thanks for the added info. Good to know what a 1099 is for future reference although I shudder to deal with these things to be honest.

[Leo&Farah 0]

Most banks usually have notaries that will notarize your stuff with free, granted that you can prove you have an account with them...that's what I've been doing. Better than paying for it!

That's neat that they do it there. Over here banks don't do that kinda thing. I tried and they stared at me blankly. Ended up having to go to a commissioner of oaths to notarize my application for a police cert which cost money. Not a lot, but not free either.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Figured it was for those non typical wage income earners. He does not have one. Also getting the transcript because everyone is saying the magic number to look for on the 1040 is line 22 and that number cannot be right at all on his turbo tax.

We filled up a 1040EZ so no idea if the line 22 thing is for regular 1040's. In anycase, a transcript seems to be the way to go. Less headache trying to sort through all these technicalities. Dump it in their hands and be done with it.

Thanks for the added info. Good to know what a 1099 is for future reference although I shudder to deal with these things to be honest.

1040-EZ filers don't have the opportunity to take the deductions that 1040 filers can take. Therefore, the adjusted gross income on the 1040EZ is the same as the total income would be on a 1040 without any deductions taken. The number they'd be looking at on the 1040-EZ is line 4 - basically, just the sum of wages, salaries, tips, interest, and unemployment compensation.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Well that's a relief.

We're gonna be getting tax transcripts as well as the tax filed online at turbo tax with the W2's. Getting the transcript because he does not have a 1099 and I read somewhere they sometimes ask for it. But he doesn't NEED one afaik.

So with all this tax confusing stuff going around, a tax transcript seems safest, just did not know if either of them needed for some reason to be notarized.

Thanks for clearing things up.

With tax transcripts there is no question...they DO NOT need to be notarized and in general tax returns do not need to be either. But since the Kiev consulate uses an old OF-167 which states that copies of tax returns DO need to be notarized I simply printed another copy of mine from the computer and took it to my bank and signed it and they notarized it for free. Probably not necessary but I wasn't going to chance that the consulate clerk collecting the documents hold something up for lack of an unnecessary (but not difficult to obtain) notarization.

In this process, it is my belief there is no such thing as "too much gun".

You have got to be smarter than the average government clerk.

[Leo&Farah 0]

1040-EZ filers don't have the opportunity to take the deductions that 1040 filers can take. Therefore, the adjusted gross income on the 1040EZ is the same as the total income would be on a 1040 without any deductions taken. The number they'd be looking at on the 1040-EZ is line 4 - basically, just the sum of wages, salaries, tips, interest, and unemployment compensation.

Thanks! Line 4 makes a lot more sense. Really appreciate clearing that part up.

[Leo&Farah 0]

With tax transcripts there is no question...they DO NOT need to be notarized and in general tax returns do not need to be either. But since the Kiev consulate uses an old OF-167 which states that copies of tax returns DO need to be notarized I simply printed another copy of mine from the computer and took it to my bank and signed it and they notarized it for free. Probably not necessary but I wasn't going to chance that the consulate clerk collecting the documents hold something up for lack of an unnecessary (but not difficult to obtain) notarization.

In this process, it is my belief there is no such thing as "too much gun".

You have got to be smarter than the average government clerk.

And old form does make sense. Oh well, tax transcripts is the way to go. Too bad ours hasn't arrived yet and its been over a month. At this point I think it got lost in the mail. Gonna have to order it again I suppose.

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

With tax transcripts there is no question...they DO NOT need to be notarized and in general tax returns do not need to be either. But since the Kiev consulate uses an old OF-167 which states that copies of tax returns DO need to be notarized I simply printed another copy of mine from the computer and took it to my bank and signed it and they notarized it for free. Probably not necessary but I wasn't going to chance that the consulate clerk collecting the documents hold something up for lack of an unnecessary (but not difficult to obtain) notarization.

In this process, it is my belief there is no such thing as "too much gun".

You have got to be smarter than the average government clerk.

And old form does make sense. Oh well, tax transcripts is the way to go. Too bad ours hasn't arrived yet and its been over a month. At this point I think it got lost in the mail. Gonna have to order it again I suppose.

Got a fax machine or fax printer? They'll fax them to you the same day!