Taxes

[delicious25 0]

I got a letter in the mail saying I am to fill out form W-8 or W-9 for my taxes. Now I am in the process of getting my green card and SSN. Since I am married to my American husband I am supposed to fill out the W-9 form even though it is supposed to be just for businesses I thought, but when I called the 1-888 # they said I could fill out either form, which isn't true, I am doing taxes with my husband so being an alien resident and waiting to get my SSN and my greencard approval I am confused why I need to fill out either form. The Bank people on the phone said in the SSN section I can write "Applied For" and then once I get my SSN I have to re-fill out the W-9 form for my Canadian bank. But that could take forever to get my SSN so after letter 2 and 3 I will be probably be in the bad books with the IRS, yet it's not my fault because I am waiting for my SSN and I don't work here in the USA because I can't legally until I have my greencard and a SSN. I haven't worked since I have been here in the states so I don't understand the reason why I need to fill out the Business form (W-9) just so it can cover my Canadian bank's butt (so to speak). Has anyone else dealt with this? Also am I supposed to fill this out when all they are going to get is my name and address, which they already have since they did mail me the letter.

Thanks

Edited January 27, 2015 by delicious25

[TBoneTX 45,663]

*** Thread moved from Off Topic forum to the Tax & Finances forum. ***

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I got a letter in the mail saying I am to fill out form W-8 or W-9 for my taxes. Now I am in the process of getting my green card and SSN. Since I am married to my American husband I am supposed to fill out the W-9 form even though it is supposed to be just for businesses I thought, but when I called the 1-888 # they said I could fill out either form, which isn't true, I am doing taxes with my husband so being an alien resident and waiting to get my SSN and my greencard approval I am confused why I need to fill out either form. The Bank people on the phone said in the SSN section I can write "Applied For" and then once I get my SSN I have to re-fill out the W-9 form for my Canadian bank. But that could take forever to get my SSN so after letter 2 and 3 I will be probably be in the bad books with the IRS, yet it's not my fault because I am waiting for my SSN and I don't work here in the USA because I can't legally until I have my greencard and a SSN. I haven't worked since I have been here in the states so I don't understand the reason why I need to fill out the Business form (W-9) just so it can cover my Canadian bank's butt (so to speak). Has anyone else dealt with this? Also am I supposed to fill this out when all they are going to get is my name and address, which they already have since they did mail me the letter.

Thanks

Your American bank has IRS requirements they have to follow as a bank. This isn't about your personal tax return. If a bank account or investment pays interest on your balance, the bank has to report the interest you earned to the IRS. Without a SSN or ITIN number to report it on, they are supposed to hold back a percentage of you earnings instead of pay it into your account. With interest rates so low, it's no more than pennies likely, but the American bank is just trying to follow the procedure the IRS requires of them since you have nothing to show you are a permanent resident and no SSN or ITIN number on which to report any interest you may earn.

It's kinda like you need your marriage certificate as a requirement for your AOS. What if your county said, "Oh that's stupid. She knows she's married. Why do we have to send her a copy of the certificate?"

Your bank is just trying to follow regulations when the customer is a foreign national. Once you get a SSN, it's solved. And why don't you have that yet? K1s are eligible right after they arrive, before marriage, before AOS.

[delicious25 0]

Ahh alright. I already sent in the form for my SSN along with my green card forms. I don't have my SSN yet because I am waiting for their reply to the form. They aren't the fastest. Right now we are waiting to be notified for our interview for the green card.

Ahh alright. I already sent in the form for my SSN along with my green card forms. I don't have my SSN yet because I am waiting for their reply to the form. They aren't the fastest. Right now we are waiting to be notified for our interview for the green card.

[delicious25 0]

We didn't know we could apply for the SSN number before marriage. So we waited until right after we got married and sent the SSN form in with the green card forms.

[delicious25 0]

By the way, why would one want to apply for a SSN card before marriage when you would have to go and reapply right after you get married for another SSN card due to my last name change. That doesn't make any sense after all I got married right after I got to the states, so the time difference between before marriage and after marriage would seem silly to do when it was only a couple weeks difference.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

By the way, why would one want to apply for a SSN card before marriage when you would have to go and reapply right after you get married for another SSN card due to my last name change. That doesn't make any sense after all I got married right after I got to the states, so the time difference between before marriage and after marriage would seem silly to do when it was only a couple weeks difference.

Why? So you would have a SSN about two weeks after arrival and wouldn't have these issues at the bank. Or issues getting added to a lease, or a credit card, or insurance. Or file taxes with your husband. Everybody seems to want that number.

You don't have to change your name immediately. It's the number you need which won't change the rest of your life. You can change the name when when you go back to update your status with them to permanent resident and get the restrictive wording removed from the card.

I don't think you have applied for a SSN if you sent it with your greencard application. You have to go in person to a Social Security office. They are different agencies.

USCIS can only give you a greencard, not a SSN.

Social Security Administration can't give you a greencard.

Edited January 29, 2015 by Nich-Nick

[delicious25 0]

That's not what the instructions the USCIS said, we just followed the instructions it said for the green card and for the SSN

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

What date did you enter the US on your K1 visa?

You should make a timeline.

[Tina and Johan 206]

Ahh alright. I already sent in the form for my SSN along with my green card forms. I don't have my SSN yet because I am waiting for their reply to the form. They aren't the fastest. Right now we are waiting to be notified for our interview for the green card.

When did you apply for your SSN? Both my husband and stepson received theirs within 2 weeks of applying. Closer to 8 days. It wasn't a slow process. Good luck!