Original Tax Forms??

[AFGgirl 0]

Hi everyone,

this topic may have been discussed, but I am still a bit confused. I have heard certain consulates, including the one in Afghanistan, may require ORIGINAL tax forms. What does original mean? I am using a co-sponsor since I am a student, they scanned and emailed me all 10 pages of their 1040 (Individual Income Tax Return) for 2011, as well as their W-2 from work. Does that count? Or is she supposed to mail me all the original forms she herself got from the IRS, even though those forms also look like copies since it doesnt have an official signature or seal.

please someone clear this up for me. I am so confused about what people mean when they say "original tax forms"? Isnt a COPY of the 1040 and W-2 good enough, or am I completely missing something?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Hi everyone,

this topic may have been discussed, but I am still a bit confused. I have heard certain consulates, including the one in Afghanistan, may require ORIGINAL tax forms. What does original mean? I am using a co-sponsor since I am a student, they scanned and emailed me all 10 pages of their 1040 (Individual Income Tax Return) for 2011, as well as their W-2 from work. Does that count? Or is she supposed to mail me all the original forms she herself got from the IRS, even though those forms also look like copies since it doesnt have an official signature or seal.

please someone clear this up for me. I am so confused about what people mean when they say "original tax forms"? Isnt a COPY of the 1040 and W-2 good enough, or am I completely missing something?

You need one of 2 things, either a tax return transcript from the IRS, or a complete copy of the return which includes the 1040 and all schedules, attachments and W-2s, just as if you had mailed the return to the IRS.

[AFGgirl 0]

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate it. But I am still confused by what it means by originals. The copies I have are electronically signed using the CPA's PIN numbers, there are no "original" signatures. So is that ok?

And by other forms, you mean anything else other than the 1040 that my co-sponsor filed, such as the 1099, which I believe she didnt. I think she only has the 1040 and the W-2. Thus, are those two sufficient? Along with a letter from employer, 2 pay stubs?

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Thank you for the reply, I appreciate it. But I am still confused by what it means by originals. The copies I have are electronically signed using the CPA's PIN numbers, there are no "original" signatures. So is that ok?

And by other forms, you mean anything else other than the 1040 that my co-sponsor filed, such as the 1099, which I believe she didnt. I think she only has the 1040 and the W-2. Thus, are those two sufficient? Along with a letter from employer, 2 pay stubs?

There are usually other pages that go along with the 1040 when filing. If you filed electronically, the copy of your return should still include any and all forms that were sent electronically to the IRS. A complete copy of a return includes everything that was filled out and sent to the IRS, by mail or electronically. It makes it much easier to use a tax return transcript directly from the IRS because that is all you need. There is no need to worry about if you have all the forms, or W-2s. All of that information is included in an IRS tax transcript and they are free.

Since different consulates want different things, you should ask in your regional forum to know exactly what your consulate wants you to provide for your tax returns.