Joint sponsor and tax returns (urgent) (merged)

[Maryfran 2]

Hello everybody,

I would like to know how will it affect my petition because my husband didn't file taxes for 4 years.

We have been abroad all this time and the last tax return is from 2009... He called his consulent and he told him that he doesn't have to file taxes since he was abroad.

Is it true? I read that you have to file taxes even if abroad, I am confused...

Is a letter telling that we were abroad because I had 3 year penalty and having a baby is enough for them to understand what we've been through?

Also My husband is been working for six months in the US, he has an employer letter, checks, and w4 form. He does reach the 125% level but we are scared that because his job is recent we are gonna need a joint sponsor.

What do you say? Is it safe to have a joint sponsor in any case?

Thank you for answering me

[Stressed Out 81]

Well it sounds like whatever CPA he talked to needs to relearn some things. You DO have to file taxes from abroad if you make over $20k a year, but I believe $90k can be tax free for those living abroad. However, he still needs to file if it was over $20k/year. He'll just need to backfile, which shouldn't take long according to other users on here.

And with his current income, six months isn't too recent, so you should be able to include paystubs to show for his income now, I'd say.

[Maryfran 2]

He didn't work enough abroad, he was mostly off the book

does he need to file tax returns anyways?

[kzielu 1,149]

Not true at all. Have to file taxes regardless where you live and report your worldwide income.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

If he made under the threashold, then he needs to provide a statement saying so, and explaining why he does not need to file taxes.

[Maryfran 2]

Which statement? A letter? I mean he worked off the books in Italy for four years. What can we do about it? There is nothing to declare. I am confused

[Stressed Out 81]

The only way for there to be nothing to declare is if there was no money being made. He'll have to file for those tax years unless he was unemployed or made under $20k/year.

[Maryfran 2]

Yes he was unemployed. So we are going to write a letter to explain that. But he has all his tax returns from when he used to work in the U.S.

[USAbound7374 0]

He has to file, even if the US income was zero. Like me, who is living in Canada with my hubby for the past 3 years. You should report foreign earned income on form 2555. If you made less than 90k, then you don't have to pay USA taxes.

[Stressed Out 81]

Well if he was truly unemployed or earned under the threshold for a certain tax year then, no, they aren't required to file. They'd attach a written explanation why they didn't have to file, like I had to.

[Maryfran 2]

So he should write a letter saying that he was unemployed and didn't need to file for taxes. Or Irs has to give us a statement? I am confused. He didn't earn anything. Just cash.

[kzielu 1,149]

So he should write a letter saying that he was unemployed and didn't need to file for taxes. Or Irs has to give us a statement? I am confused. He didn't earn anything. Just cash.

He either earned cash or didn't earned anything. Cash isn't anything, working and not paying taxes is illegal.

[Stressed Out 81]

I asked you if he was unemployed meaning working. Whether it's official or under the table, an income is an income. Sounds like he just wasn't paying taxes, but was working nonetheless.

[Maryfran 2]

No he was working on and off. Once in a while not regularly and not in the U.S.

[kzielu 1,149]

Yeah, I'm sure not paying taxes in Italy is entirely legal.