taxes

[louiep 7]

ok even if you can claim head of household how can i claim my stepdaughters when their not here yet but i defintuely provide all their needs and support?

[Memphis 26]

When is the earliest time (what month of the year) to start filing for ITR?

[bigdog 376]

Consult a CPA or other reliable tax professional.

[The Mean Lady 604]

When is the earliest time (what month of the year) to start filing for ITR?

If you mean income tax return, then by law, you are required to receive your w2 by the end of January, I believe.

So following that, you can start filing in February or earlier if your employer gives it to you earlier.

[destiny64 222]

I think it should be clear the only reason I'm allowed to claim head of household which I have been doing since my divorce of my first husband, is that I have dependent children LIVING WITH ME. If my husband was part of our household next year we would be claiming the married filing jointly, UNLESS he wasn't living here for more than 6 months of the year. With the rate USCIS is going it could be the case again for next year! As the saying goes two things you can count on is death and taxes, AND the 3rd= waiting an enormous amount of time for your NOA-2!

[MrsRodriguez 4]

At my job when i filed out the w2 it stated if "married, but legally separated, or spouse is a noneesident alien , check the single box" -- maybe that helps put

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

ok even if you can claim head of household how can i claim my stepdaughters when their not here yet but i defintuely provide all their needs and support?

You can't claim your step-daughters as dependents because they aren't living with you in the United States. This is explained in Internal Revenue Code section 152(b)(3)(A):

In general, The term “dependent” does not include an individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States unless such individual is a resident of the United States or a country contiguous to the United States.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

At my job when i filed out the w2 it stated if "married, but legally separated, or spouse is a noneesident alien , check the single box" -- maybe that helps put

Your W-4 is only for withholding of income taxes from your wages. If you are married and your spouse is a non-resident alien your filing status on your tax return should be Married Filing Joint, Married Filing Separately or Head of Household depending on your circumstances. Single is not a correct filing status when you are married.

[gzbabi 2]

Here is a link to a tool on the IRS website that helps you figure out your filing status:

What is my filing status?

You definitely should not file as Single since you are married.

Interesting, I had a tax accountant doing my taxes last year. As my wife never lived in the US and also does not have a SSN or TIN, he told me to file as single.

[Elxan 4]

Your W-4 is only for withholding of income taxes from your wages. If you are married and your spouse is a non-resident alien your filing status on your tax return should be Married Filing Joint, Married Filing Separately or Head of Household depending on your circumstances. Single is not a correct filing status when you are married.

Very interesting information.

How i should file my taxes then, if i am married with 2 kids since 2011 ?

They both are living in another country, and never traveled with me to USA because of visa issues.

This year i have filed I-130 for them before becoming a USC, but don't know how to file taxes yet, please help.

a) I have been advised to file as single without claiming dependents (my wife and 2 kids).

And then file as Married, once my family members are here.

b) Another advice was, after my family members join me in US, i may file to correct my tax filing status.

What would be correct path to follow, please help ?

[destiny64 222]

Interesting, I had a tax accountant doing my taxes last year. As my wife never lived in the US and also does not have a SSN or TIN, he told me to file as single.

Your tax account knows what he's doing , people need to realize this is for tax purposes. If you were to file as married you would get a huge tax break because they would assume she is living with you, then you need to give a social security number which you won't have( or alien number). You could file married jointly but I think it would mean a lot of extra steps to bring her income from another country into the formula , big headache if you ask me.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Very interesting information.

How i should file my taxes then, if i am married with 2 kids since 2011 ?

They both are living in another country, and never traveled with me to USA because of visa issues.

This year i have filed I-130 for them before becoming a USC, but don't know how to file taxes yet, please help.

a) I have been advised to file as single without claiming dependents (my wife and 2 kids).

And then file as Married, once my family members are here.

b) Another advice was, after my family members join me in US, i may file to correct my tax filing status.

What would be correct path to follow, please help ?

You can do either one. In 2010, the IRS denied my husband's ITIN and adjusted my status to single on their own accord.

In 2011, with my husband living in Canada, I filed as Joint and my husband's ITIN was approved (which is not even an option you chose).

I chose to file jointly because I fully support my husband while he lives in another country therefor I feel entitled to that tax break.

For you, I think either suggestion is fine. Essentially, with both, you are filing as single, it's just a matter of if you adjust status later which I DID in 2011 with my husband's ITIN. I sent back in for 2010 and got my additional 250 bucks.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

Very interesting information.

How i should file my taxes then, if i am married with 2 kids since 2011 ?

They both are living in another country, and never traveled with me to USA because of visa issues.

This year i have filed I-130 for them before becoming a USC, but don't know how to file taxes yet, please help.

a) I have been advised to file as single without claiming dependents (my wife and 2 kids).

And then file as Married, once my family members are here.

b) Another advice was, after my family members join me in US, i may file to correct my tax filing status.

What would be correct path to follow, please help ?

If you can't or aren't willing to file for ITINs for your wife and children so that you can file a joint return, then you should file as Married Filing Separately.

[rade2rising 205]

I went to that link and answered the questions. It said married filed separately. so how come it didnt say to file single???? esp since she living in another country last 6 months? whats the deal?

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

You can do either one. In 2010, the IRS denied my husband's ITIN and adjusted my status to single on their own accord.

In 2011, with my husband living in Canada, I filed as Joint and my husband's ITIN was approved (which is not even an option you chose).

I chose to file jointly because I fully support my husband while he lives in another country therefor I feel entitled to that tax break.

For you, I think either suggestion is fine. Essentially, with both, you are filing as single, it's just a matter of if you adjust status later which I DID in 2011 with my husband's ITIN. I sent back in for 2010 and got my additional 250 bucks.

When the IRS denied your husband's ITIN and changed your filing status to single they did not properly follow the law. If you are married, filing single is not a proper option.