Tax return advise

[Emerald 0]

Hubby hasn't filed his US taxes for the past 5yrs. Only because we weren't aware that he had too until we looked into getting my visa.

I've contacted a few people here in Australia who specialise in US taxes abroad and some are saying they'll do the 3 years needed.

If he hasn't filed for the past 5 yrs, should we file 5yrs worth, or just the 3 we need for his visa? Because the way the tax people are talking they said we only need to do the 3 we need for my visa.

Thanks

Emerald

[aussiewench 9]

I'm not up on US tax and I don't know if what you are being told is correct or not but hopefully someone will. I do know that you only need the most recent tax return for the I-864, not 3 years. You have the option of supplying them 3 years if you think it will strengthen your case.

[Yodrak 7]

Emerald,

He may need only 1 year for the visa, but the IRS will want a tax return for any year in which he made more than the minimum required by law to file a tax return. He may not owe any tax due to the foreign-earned income exclusion or tax treaty provisions, but he still needs to report the income.

Yodrak

Hubby hasn't filed his US taxes for the past 5yrs. Only because we weren't aware that he had too until we looked into getting my visa.

I've contacted a few people here in Australia who specialise in US taxes abroad and some are saying they'll do the 3 years needed.

If he hasn't filed for the past 5 yrs, should we file 5yrs worth, or just the 3 we need for his visa? Because the way the tax people are talking they said we only need to do the 3 we need for my visa.

Thanks

Emerald

[Emerald 0]

Yodrak,

So do you think if we file the 1yr or 3yrs needed for the visa, we can file the rest in the USA when we get there? Or will the IRS ask where the missing 2yrs are when we ask for the transcript for the visa? He hasn't earn't over the foreign income limit.

Hmmm hard one,

EM

Emerald,

He may need only 1 year for the visa, but the IRS will want a tax return for any year in which he made more than the minimum required by law to file a tax return. He may not owe any tax due to the foreign-earned income exclusion or tax treaty provisions, but he still needs to report the income.

Yodrak

Hubby hasn't filed his US taxes for the past 5yrs. Only because we weren't aware that he had too until we looked into getting my visa.

I've contacted a few people here in Australia who specialise in US taxes abroad and some are saying they'll do the 3 years needed.

If he hasn't filed for the past 5 yrs, should we file 5yrs worth, or just the 3 we need for his visa? Because the way the tax people are talking they said we only need to do the 3 we need for my visa.

Thanks

Emerald

[Yodrak 7]

EM,

The issue of filing isn't whether he's earned more than the foreign-earned income exclusion, the issue is whether he's earned more than the threshhold amount for filing an income tax return.

Was he filing tax returns prior to going overseas?

In any event, if it were me I would send them all in together.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

So do you think if we file the 1yr or 3yrs needed for the visa, we can file the rest in the USA when we get there? Or will the IRS ask where the missing 2yrs are when we ask for the transcript for the visa? He hasn't earn't over the foreign income limit.

Hmmm hard one,

EM

[Emerald 0]

Yes he filed his taxes every year before coming overseas, and he filed every year here in Aussie since arriving.

Each tax person i'm getting quotes off to do his USA taxes in aussie are quoting 3yrs taxes, so thats why i'm wondering what to do.

An waiting on another guy to get back to me for taxes quotes before we get moving on them..... damn i wish we knew all this previously lol

Em

EM,

The issue of filing isn't whether he's earned more than the foreign-earned income exclusion, the issue is whether he's earned more than the threshhold amount for filing an income tax return.

Was he filing tax returns prior to going overseas?

In any event, if it were me I would send them all in together.

Yodrak

Yodrak,

So do you think if we file the 1yr or 3yrs needed for the visa, we can file the rest in the USA when we get there? Or will the IRS ask where the missing 2yrs are when we ask for the transcript for the visa? He hasn't earn't over the foreign income limit.

Hmmm hard one,

EM

[Yodrak 7]

Em,

Why not have the tax preparer do just 1 US tax return, then when your husband sees how it's done for his situation he can do all the other missing years himself?

Guess who's going to give the tax preparer all of the numbers needed to do the tax returns anyway?

Yodrak

Yes he filed his taxes every year before coming overseas, and he filed every year here in Aussie since arriving.

Each tax person i'm getting quotes off to do his USA taxes in aussie are quoting 3yrs taxes, so thats why i'm wondering what to do.

An waiting on another guy to get back to me for taxes quotes before we get moving on them..... damn i wish we knew all this previously lol

Em

Edited November 9, 2006 by Yodrak

[AUSC 0]

Em,

Why not have the tax preparer do just 1 US tax return, then when your husband sees how it's done for his situation he can do all the other missing years himself?

Guess who's going to give the tax preparer all of the numbers needed to do the tax returns anyway?

Yodrak

Yes he filed his taxes every year before coming overseas, and he filed every year here in Aussie since arriving.

Each tax person i'm getting quotes off to do his USA taxes in aussie are quoting 3yrs taxes, so thats why i'm wondering what to do.

An waiting on another guy to get back to me for taxes quotes before we get moving on them..... damn i wish we knew all this previously lol

Em

I agree. Just do the most recent one through a preparer and the rest you can do it using Turbo Tax or some such software. Preparing back returns are no different than preparing the current year when using software. However, once you send in the returns, IRS will asses penalties if any, and notify you to pay them. You can't file back taxes electronically, you need to send the paper returns. You can also make payment arrangements with IRS if needed.

[Emerald 0]

hubby thinks that filing your own is hard and he dosn't want to stuff them up? Is it really that hard? Also where do we get the forms from?

Wouldn't the IRS wonder why we are only filing 1yrs taxes and havn't filed the other years? Wouldn't that be an issue for my visa, or do they just require the 1yr tax return.

Thank

EM

Em,

Why not have the tax preparer do just 1 US tax return, then when your husband sees how it's done for his situation he can do all the other missing years himself?

Guess who's going to give the tax preparer all of the numbers needed to do the tax returns anyway?

Yodrak

Yes he filed his taxes every year before coming overseas, and he filed every year here in Aussie since arriving.

Each tax person i'm getting quotes off to do his USA taxes in aussie are quoting 3yrs taxes, so thats why i'm wondering what to do.

An waiting on another guy to get back to me for taxes quotes before we get moving on them..... damn i wish we knew all this previously lol

Em

I agree. Just do the most recent one through a preparer and the rest you can do it using Turbo Tax or some such software. Preparing back returns are no different than preparing the current year when using software. However, once you send in the returns, IRS will asses penalties if any, and notify you to pay them. You can't file back taxes electronically, you need to send the paper returns. You can also make payment arrangements with IRS if needed.

[Yodrak 7]

EM,

I think that doing a tax return with foreign-earned income is hard the first time, that's why I suggest having a tax accountant do one year. Then copy what the accountant did for the other years. Get the forms from a consulate or the embassy, Anmerican Citizen Services unit of the consular section.

Yes, I think the IRS may very well question the other 4 years if he belatedly submits only 1 year of 5 missing years.

Shouldn't be an issue for your visa - the tax returns are pretty much useless for that anyway. Foreign earned income in past years does no good for supporting you in the USA tomorrow unless it will be continuing employment.

Yodrak

hubby thinks that filing your own is hard and he dosn't want to stuff them up? Is it really that hard? Also where do we get the forms from?

Wouldn't the IRS wonder why we are only filing 1yrs taxes and havn't filed the other years? Wouldn't that be an issue for my visa, or do they just require the 1yr tax return.

Thank

EM

Em,

Why not have the tax preparer do just 1 US tax return, then when your husband sees how it's done for his situation he can do all the other missing years himself?

Guess who's going to give the tax preparer all of the numbers needed to do the tax returns anyway?

Yodrak

Yes he filed his taxes every year before coming overseas, and he filed every year here in Aussie since arriving.

Each tax person i'm getting quotes off to do his USA taxes in aussie are quoting 3yrs taxes, so thats why i'm wondering what to do.

An waiting on another guy to get back to me for taxes quotes before we get moving on them..... damn i wish we knew all this previously lol

Em

I agree. Just do the most recent one through a preparer and the rest you can do it using Turbo Tax or some such software. Preparing back returns are no different than preparing the current year when using software. However, once you send in the returns, IRS will asses penalties if any, and notify you to pay them. You can't file back taxes electronically, you need to send the paper returns. You can also make payment arrangements with IRS if needed.

Edited November 13, 2006 by Yodrak