Did the IRS screw up?

[MrsNelson 10]

Okay, so I received all my tax transcripts for 2008, 2009 and last year (2010).

2008: Worked in America, tax transcript looks fine.

2010: Worked for a school in South Korea, everything looks fine. Owed nothing.

2009: Worked in Mexico and South Korea. Made 17K (meager, I know), all outside the USA. Noted on the 1040 tax form that I made the 17K.

Here's the kicker: I know I don't owe anything, but on the tax transcript it says that I filed, and owe nothing, but that my gross adjusted income and taxable income are both $0. Huh? Shouldn't it note that I made the 17K? My 2010 notes the 26K I made in wages, even though I owe nothing.

I'm concerned because on the Affidavit of Support form it has the blanks where you write what your salary was for the last 3 years as it shows on your tax returns, and I really don't know what to put for 2009. Do I put 17K? Or do I put the $0, which really looks awful and it's the truth. Did the IRS screw up? I emailed them (and the Embassy here in Seoul) but I was wondering if anyone has any advice or imput. In addition to this, my Mom is a cosponsor, I own property and I have 20K in savings in my American bank account. Please help me, our interview is Dec 29th and we've worked SO hard and I don't want it all to go to the crapper because of 2009. ;-) Please, please please, any help? Thanks!

[MrsNelson 10]

Okay so I'm saying the answer to my own question just in case someone else has this problem. Here's what you do.

If your tax transcript says "$0", don't panic. What you do is on the blank on the Affidavit of Support where it asks for your income for the last 3 years, write the salary you actually made, then write in parenthesis (foreign income). Attach the tax transcript to show you filed.

I got this information from the IV part of the Embassy in Seoul. Apparently this happens quite a bit for people who have worked overseas and owe no taxes in the USA. :-)