J1 visa taxes for foreign wife?

[bste3 0]

Hello,

My wife worked here for a few months on a J1 visa in 2010 and earned about $4,200. This is enough that we are required to file I believe. I am a full time student and did not work, the only tax form I got was from the department of education giving me my interest amount I can write off from student loans. I know a lot about US tax laws but am quite confused with our situation. Basically, what form do we need to fill out for federal taxes? She only had federal withheld, nothing else. Thanks.

[ann and aties 9]

look at the instructions for 1040 here - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf

assuming if she had withholding then she was given a W-2. You might want to file to get the withholding back.

You can file for free here: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

But I don't understand how taxes work on a J-1, so you might want to hire a professional who does those kinds of situations.

[haruko83 1]

look at the instructions for 1040 here - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040.pdf

assuming if she had withholding then she was given a W-2. You might want to file to get the withholding back.

You can file for free here: http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html

But I don't understand how taxes work on a J-1, so you might want to hire a professional who does those kinds of situations.

you can just do it with turbotax or similar, like a normal american... if you live here you are consider resident for tax purposes. I have been in the US with J1 visas before, and always did my taxes and filed like I was a resident. Only recently got married and filed taxed again like i would normally do, immigration has them and there was no problem.

Good luck!

(uso turbotax freedom, its free and easy to use!!!)

[missaero 7]

People no a non-immigrant visa such as a J-1 generally file as a non-resident (1040NR) however, since you are a USC and your spouse is the non-resident foreigner, you can elect to be treated as a resident for tax purposes and therefore file the 1040. Generally the first time you make this decision, you have to attach a statement with your tax return.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p519/ch01.html#en_US_publink1000222193