Tax Transcript Question

[furble 3]

I'm hoping some of my questions are also helping other people.

Ok, so here is an interesting tax transcript question(s)

1) I have them in hand already, but I haven't opened the envelope. Can I Open the envlopes and look at them or does that make them not official anymore. I know it works that way for a school transcript.

2) So here is the the big question. I have looked online at some other people's sample tax transcripts so I do have an idea of what they look like. And it looks like unfortunately it doesn't break down into too much detail the section about W-2s. Unfortunately I have an ex-wife that is on some of these transcripts as when we were married we filed jointly. That being said I am assuming it is a problem that the transcript doesn't seem to specify who's who with W-2s other than just a grand total of all W-2s. Sooooo.... does this mean I need to find my old W-2s so it is clear which income is from me in particular on the old transcripts? And yes my portion of the W-2s is more than enough for the guidelines.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I'm hoping some of my questions are also helping other people.

Ok, so here is an interesting tax transcript question(s)

1) I have them in hand already, but I haven't opened the envelope. Can I Open the envlopes and look at them or does that make them not official anymore. I know it works that way for a school transcript.

2) So here is the the big question. I have looked online at some other people's sample tax transcripts so I do have an idea of what they look like. And it looks like unfortunately it doesn't break down into too much detail the section about W-2s. Unfortunately I have an ex-wife that is on some of these transcripts as when we were married we filed jointly. That being said I am assuming it is a problem that the transcript doesn't seem to specify who's who with W-2s other than just a grand total of all W-2s. Sooooo.... does this mean I need to find my old W-2s so it is clear which income is from me in particular on the old transcripts? And yes my portion of the W-2s is more than enough for the guidelines.

You can open the envelopes, not a problem. In fact, I highlighted the top section of the first page where it shows the name, SSN and year of the transcript.

Not to worry much about the detail, all they are looking for are the filing status, dependents listed and income figures.

If you filed jointly at some point and there are more recent filings with you only, then it should not be a problem, The I-864 only requires last tax year figures, prior to that is optional. If you feel nervous about it, then have some paychecks on the ready which can support what you stated as your income. Assuming of course, that you have filed or have ready (with your petition) the divorce decree. The decree date will "match" with the tax returns dates when filed jointly and then single.

[jkelly07 120]

open the envelope,make copies of the transcripes your going to need another set in the future.if you filed jointy then your ex spouse is included in the w2's in the transcripts, if you get a divorce, you each file your own taxes separate,no more joint.you may have to talk to a tax accountant about the amount of whats what.

[furble 3]

You can open the envelopes, not a problem. In fact, I highlighted the top section of the first page where it shows the name, SSN and year of the transcript.

Not to worry much about the detail, all they are looking for are the filing status, dependents listed and income figures.

If you filed jointly at some point and there are more recent filings with you only, then it should not be a problem, The I-864 only requires last tax year figures, prior to that is optional. If you feel nervous about it, then have some paychecks on the ready which can support what you stated as your income. Assuming of course, that you have filed or have ready (with your petition) the divorce decree. The decree date will "match" with the tax returns dates when filed jointly and then single.

Unfortunately it was the later of the 3 tax returns which were filed jointly (Marriage didnt' last long). Even last year was filed jointly, was actually agreed upon as part of our divorce that we would file jointly as we were married and living together for 2 weeks of 2010 which qualified us (and divorce wasn't finalized till 2011 anyway). Was my idea to file the last one jointly because she was unemployed and mixing her 0 income with my income made for a substantial tax savings which was mine to pay anyway. I read about it somewhere on the US Govmnt's website that in the case such as mine I would just be able to prove whih portion of the income was from me, and unfortunately it looks like the transcripts don't effectively do that without the original W-2s. I have them, just in a storage locker burried away. I had just never really seen inside the transcripts yet so I wasn't 100% sure that it wasn't itemized.

Good news is my 2011 return will be filed Jointly with my Indonesian wife and an ITIN, which would also serve as some nice evidence of joint proprety if I actually wanted to wait next month to send in the taxes and actually complete my taxes that early on.

Edited December 22, 2011 by furble

[pushbrk 12,898]

You can open the envelopes, not a problem. In fact, I highlighted the top section of the first page where it shows the name, SSN and year of the transcript.

Not to worry much about the detail, all they are looking for are the filing status, dependents listed and income figures.

If you filed jointly at some point and there are more recent filings with you only, then it should not be a problem, The I-864 only requires last tax year figures, prior to that is optional. If you feel nervous about it, then have some paychecks on the ready which can support what you stated as your income. Assuming of course, that you have filed or have ready (with your petition) the divorce decree. The decree date will "match" with the tax returns dates when filed jointly and then single.

I'm sorry, but some of your answer is erroneous. See bold above. Sending more than one tax return is optional but you must state your income for all three of the past years. If you filed 2010 taxes jointly, don't use a tax transcript for 2010. Use a complete copy including the W2 forms and state only YOUR income, not the joint income. For the required 2009 and 2008 figures, indicate only your personal income. If you don't have the records, get them.

The transcript you should have is called a "Tax Return Transcript". Make sure that's what it is or they are.

[Gosia & Tito 199]

I'm sorry, but some of your answer is erroneous. See bold above. Sending more than one tax return is optional but you must state your income for all three of the past years. If you filed 2010 taxes jointly, don't use a tax transcript for 2010. Use a complete copy including the W2 forms and state only YOUR income, not the joint income. For the required 2009 and 2008 figures, indicate only your personal income. If you don't have the records, get them.

The transcript you should have is called a "Tax Return Transcript". Make sure that's what it is or they are.

And you would be correct (thanks for the correction ): last 3 years income, with only last tax return/transcript mandatory.

[RABA 0]

I'm sorry, but some of your answer is erroneous. See bold above. Sending more than one tax return is optional but you must state your income for all three of the past years. If you filed 2010 taxes jointly, don't use a tax transcript for 2010. Use a complete copy including the W2 forms and state only YOUR income, not the joint income. For the required 2009 and 2008 figures, indicate only your personal income. If you don't have the records, get them.

The transcript you should have is called a "Tax Return Transcript". Make sure that's what it is or they are.

If only the petitioner's income is reported for years 2009 and 2008, it won't agree with IRS. Will that be a problem?

[pushbrk 12,898]

If only the petitioner's income is reported for years 2009 and 2008, it won't agree with IRS. Will that be a problem?

Read my instructions again, carefully this time.

If you filed 2010 taxes jointly, don't use a tax transcript for 2010. Use a complete copy including the W2 forms and state only YOUR income, not the joint income. For the required 2009 and 2008 figures, indicate only your personal income. If you don't have the records, get them.