DO i need to change my TAX FILING Status??

[deemabrouk 0]

To use the filing status Single you have to be unmarried as of Dec 31st 2006, to file Head of Household you have to be divorced or hold a legally binding separation agreement and have a qualifying dependent...

To file as head of household it is not limited to only being divorced or holding a legally binding separation agreement. A single, never married person or a widow(er) can file this way if they have a qualifying dependent.

I called the IRS the other day.. they seemed to be all over the place with giving me a straight answer.. BUT they asked has he lived with me for the past 6 months... and that is a no.. and they asked is my Income what pays the bills.. and that is a yes.. And if I have to Dependents.. Yes.. SO he said that If my spouse did not live with me.. Or lived in the country.. I STILL could file for Head of Household.. He also said the if I DID fill Married filling Jointly that a WORLD income could come into play.. and they would want to incorporate His income over there... BUT he lives in Egpyt.. and they do NOT document what he makes over there (paystubs, W-2 , etc) and he said that could possibly be a problem I'm gonna call back again.. and see if I get anywhere AGAIN.. cause I need this to go smoothly for the Visa.. ( and I need my returns asap so I can see my husband)

[deemabrouk 0]

OK.. So I re Read what was stated by the other VJ member - http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p504.pdf - (using the link fromthe IRS web site) and I remember the guy I spoke to on the phone say this also... that I would be considered unmarried for Tax purposes.. cause my spouse did not live with me.. I can choose to NOT treat him as a resident alien ( which is right?? right?? cause he was Never A Resident!!?? ).. and that I paid for more than half of my living expenses.. and I have dependants that live in the house... OR.. is considering NOT considering him a resident alien a bad thing for our papers???

[Kez/JWolf 6]

You would still get a better refund if you filed Married Filing Jointly.....

[deemabrouk 0]

You would still get a better refund if you filed Married Filing Jointly.....

How is that??? and what if they want me to prove his income in Egypt??? cause I cant..

[Kez/JWolf 6]

unless he has earning in excess of $80,000 you dont have to declare anything for him... and filing married Jointly will give you better exemptions and deductions than filing Head of household...

But hey it your tax return not mine...

[Yodrak 7]

deemabrouk,

Send whatever documentation you can come up with to support the amount of income. You do not have to document it as well as you would have to document US-sourced income, expecially if the amount is well below the foreign-earned income exclusion amount.

Yodrak

You would still get a better refund if you filed Married Filing Jointly.....

How is that??? and what if they want me to prove his income in Egypt??? cause I cant..

Kezzie,

Not true. Foreign-earned income should be declared even if less than the exclusion limit.

Yodrak

unless he has earning in excess of $80,000 you dont have to declare anything for him... ...

Edited December 1, 2006 by Yodrak