is tax return necessary for citizenship ?

[jj161 0]

hi everybody,

my grandfather is a green card holder since 2 years, he is living with my uncle. he is not doing any job. is it necessary for him to fill out tax return each year even if he is not working? in future, for his citizenship will he require tax returns ? please give ur expert opinion.

thanks.

[Inky 1,110]

He must file them because one of the questions on the Citizenship forms is, have you ever failed to file your tax returns, if you fail to file tax returns that is bad moral character. File the tax returns even if there is O income.

He should be able to file back taxes for what he missed on filing.

[bradcanuck 1]

What Inky said. It doesn't matter why he didn't file - every American or green card holder MUST file a tax return EVERY year even if you lose money. You can file back YEARS. So get him to get caught up, there's no choice. It's not just immigration that's a problem, it's tax fraud to not file. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_avoidance_and_tax_evasion

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

For all practical purposes, and just in order to avoid unnecessary questions, have him file a 1040-EZ once a year. Takes 5 minutes.

[jj161 0]

Thanks a lot for ur time and info...

[mikey78 6]

However, isn't it so that if you have no income you then you don't have to file?

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

However, isn't it so that if you have no income you then you don't have to file?

Correct.

So you mark the field where it reads: I claim that I did not make any money; that's why I did not file a tax return as Uncle Sam wanted me to do. Then you contact IRS and haven them confirm that you are on good terms with them and were not required to file.

I rather spend 5 minutes to fill out a 1040-EZ and can thus mark the field confirming that I never failed to file. So much easier and smoother.

Edited March 23, 2011 by Just Bob

[mex 0]

hi everybody,

my grandfather is a green card holder since 2 years, he is living with my uncle. he is not doing any job. is it necessary for him to fill out tax return each year even if he is not working? in future, for his citizenship will he require tax returns ? please give ur expert opinion.

thanks.

No Work or No job = No w4 which is (Witholding Taxes You Pay )for Federal/state so you will not get W2 no later than feb. which is you earned from your job during the year Your employers are required to provide you with Form W-2 by the deadline set by the IRS Before April 15

NO JOB =NO W4 =NO W2 = No headache

Have Job =Have w4 = Have w2 = Weather you like it or not you should file it// if not? The Result ( You Owe Some)= IRS will not stop Look 4 you till you paid off

[RICARDO4EVA2 194]

For all practical purposes, and just in order to avoid unnecessary questions, have him file a 1040-EZ once a year. Takes 5 minutes.

ok need to talk to you like asap

[NickD 203]

From the 1040Z instructions http://www.irs.gov/instructions/i1040ez/ar02.html#d0e405, law applies to both US citizens and LPR.

Chart A and B users—if you have to file a return, you may be able to file Form 1040EZ. See Checklist for Using Form 1040EZ on page 6.

Chart A—For Most People

IF your filing status is . . . AND your gross income* was at least . . . THEN . . . Single $9,350 File a return Married filing jointly** $18,700 File a return *Gross income means all income you received in the form of money, goods, property, and services that is not exempt from tax, including any income from sources outside the United States or from the sale of your main home (even if you can exclude part or all of it).

**If you did not live with your spouse at the end of 2010 (or on the date your spouse died) and your gross income was at least $3,650, you must file a return.

<a name="d0e766">Different maximum wages apply for dependent children under 19 and seniors over 65 years of age, it's all in the above listed site as to whether you must file or not. Under these laws, my stepdaughter never had to file, but for 2010 her combined state and federal taxes withheld was 51 bucks, she didn't have to file, but would have given that 50 bucks to the government that she certainly could use. In some cases in our socialistic government, actually can get money back that never was withheld, even without an income.

But these are IRS rules, dealing with the USCIS on this issue is an entirely different matter like they are the watchdog for all the various government agencies we have to deal with.

The thing is, many immigrants come here with the intention of gaining their US citizenship and let 3 or 5 years go by without even reading the N-400 form and the instructions to learn what they must keep track of. Most have a US citizen sponsor that is suppose to know these requirements and should be the guide for these immigrants. Stuff like keeping trips, employment, addresses, consequences of even small traffic violations, and even the more major ones. At this time, its 3 or 5 years to late.

Ironically, 65% of Americans can't even do their own tax returns as recently reported, and the vast majority of them couldn't even pass the civics test. So how can they be the guide? And even the USCIS is lax in this matter in giving you a check list of the stuff you have to do and keep track of when you first get your green card. But what we went through for the AOS should be a hint, even I thought that was the end of it, but only the beginning.

What's really ironic is that the IRS doesn't even certify tax preparers and tell you outright, even with a paid preparer, you, yourself are responsible for your tax returns, but they do tell you to be careful:

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=133088,00.html

More you get involved with our government, the more you realize how screwed up they are, how did this happen? Like the blind leading the blind!

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

If your grandfather is living with your uncle, is your uncle filing him as a dependent on his taxes? Who sponsor your grandfather, are you sure they are not filing him as a dependent on their taxes?

[mikey78 6]

If your grandfather is living with your uncle, is your uncle filing him as a dependent on his taxes? Who sponsor your grandfather, are you sure they are not filing him as a dependent on their taxes?

What if the uncle is filing with his dad as a dependent? If you are being declared as dependent on someone else's tax return does that mean that you don't have to file for the year when you are being dependent? And in case USCIS asks for tax returns for that year, would you have to show tax return where you were claimed as dependent?

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

What if the uncle is filing with his dad as a dependent? If you are being declared as dependent on someone else's tax return does that mean that you don't have to file for the year when you are being dependent? And in case USCIS asks for tax returns for that year, would you have to show tax return where you were claimed as dependent?

Mikey78, you cannot file separate if you are being filed as a dependent on someone else's taxes. So if you have been filed as a dependent on someone else taxes, then you will have to show the tax transcript for that individual who filed for you as a dependent.

[LIFE'SJOURNEY 970]

Mikey78, you can file separate if you are being filed as a dependent on someone else's taxes. So if you have been filed as a dependent on someone else taxes, then you could show the tax transcript for that individual who filed for you as a dependent.

Correction, You can file seperate, but you will not be entitled to the dependent deduction, so you would be like you are just doing paper-work.

[NickD 203]

Correction, You can file seperate, but you will not be entitled to the dependent deduction, so you would be like you are just doing paper-work.

See you have corrected yourself, stepdaughter has been doing that for the last five years, can't claim herself as a dependent and has a lower standard deduction, but still manages to get all of her money back. But her mom and me sure need that dependent deduction, beside food, clothing, and transportation expenses, getting socked with $14,000 tuition and housing expenses they only let us deduct $4,000.00 for. They sure sock it to the middle class to put us in the poverty level, after taxes.