Filing Taxes for 2011 While I was on OPT

[Night Kisa 0]

Hi guys! I am adjusting from F1. In 2010 I was granted OPT for a year which expired on Dec 31, 2011. We got married at the end of October 2011. Now is the time to file taxes for my year of work on OPT.

After some research online I have found out the IRS form I need to use is 1040NR (U.S. Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return). The form is asking if I am filing as a single nonresident alien or a married nonresident. I am a little confused on what to put since during the most of the tax year that I was working on OPT I was not married yet…

If I am indicating that I am married, do we need to file jointly?? I am apologizing if my questions sond silly but I am completely new to it, and would appreciate any help or guidance. Thank you!

[PinkMelody 1]

I don't know if this helps but we got married on Ocober 2011 as well and my husband(USC) files his tax about a week ago as married for the whole year.(Of course I wasn't working) I don't think you have an option to pick from when to when you were married.

Edited February 6, 2012 by PinkMelody

[sofya 10]

File as married jointly, where your husband is the head of the household. He will use the standard 1040 form and you will be treated as a resident for tax purposes. It is absolutely normal - you will just need to provide your SSN, W-2 or 1099 information to him when he fills out the forms. Use online software which asks you step-by-step questions. You guys may end up getting a nice refund based on your marriage deductions and combined income!

If you file as married jointly, you will not need to file a separate 1040NR for yourself

Also fyi, if you got married at any time during the tax year, it allows you to file as married, including jointly. Filing married jointly is preferable, because tax system in the US rewards marriage by giving you deductions and allowing to move you to a different tax bracket, with a potentially lower effective tax rate.

Good luck!

Edited February 14, 2012 by sofya

[Night Kisa 0]

Thx so much 4 ur response!!! it answered lots of my questions!! Since I was working on OPT and did not have to pay medicare and SSN tax, ot will not be an issue that we ll file jointly for me as "married resident" (i am assuming that "residents" have to pay all taxes). Correct me if I am wrong, I just know too little about it:) thx again

[sofya 10]

You'll be fine. I worked during my OPT and didn't pay a SS tax either. Remember that income taxes are NOT the same as SS taxes (подоходный налог и социальный налог соответственно), so what you file in April has nothing to do with your SS tax status Social Security tax only counts towards your ability to receive "pension" (social security payments) when you retire

[Night Kisa 0]

You'll be fine. I worked during my OPT and didn't pay a SS tax either. Remember that income taxes are NOT the same as SS taxes (подоходный налог и социальный налог соответственно), so what you file in April has nothing to do with your SS tax status Social Security tax only counts towards your ability to receive "pension" (social security payments) when you retire

Got it! Makes sense, thank u so much, Sofya!