tax filing questions (split topic)

[Love To Teach 161]

I'm in the same boat, but my husband has his own two business in Pakistan, one being an export business to Serbia. He files taxes in both countries. I have told him to send me his taxes that he fills out for both countries at the end of this year, then I will use those figures when I file for us jointly. I'm hoping it's not going to be too complicated, so I will be keeping up with what happens to you other members on this issues. I can only imagine how much an international tax person charges for those services. Hopefully, it will not be impossible for me to figure out....

[aaron2020 11,651]

I'm in the same boat, but my husband has his own two business in Pakistan, one being an export business to Serbia. He files taxes in both countries. I have told him to send me his taxes that he fills out for both countries at the end of this year, then I will use those figures when I file for us jointly. I'm hoping it's not going to be too complicated, so I will be keeping up with what happens to you other members on this issues. I can only imagine how much an international tax person charges for those services. Hopefully, it will not be impossible for me to figure out....

If you choose to file jointly, your husband must elect to be treated as a US taxpayer. As a US taxpayer, his worldwide income is subject to US taxation.

With his own business, it's going to get complicated.

If he had little or no income like lots of foreign spouses where it would be an advantage to file jointly with the NRA spouse, then I would file jointly.

[Love To Teach 161]

How many years later can you amend your taxes? What if it takes 4-5 years of AP before he gets here?

[arken 4,197]

How many years later can you amend your taxes? What if it takes 4-5 years of AP before he gets here?

Amended tax return can generally be filed within 3 years of original application date. However, it's not like they have to amend their taxes in this case. They can if they want to but they don't have to. In this case, amended tax return is a choice based on benefits and not a necessity.

[Love To Teach 161]

Just a general question...I wonder if you have to pay more taxes as a single or as married filing separately? Anybody have experience with this? Also, since my husband already pays taxes in Pakistan and Serbia, does he still have to pay here on his entire income? He's not making that much compared to our standards in the US, but didn't I read something about not having to pay taxes on the first 68,000 of income? He's nowhere near that, but just wondering.

[Love To Teach 161]

Can file married seperate and put NRA then ammend later to married jointly with ITIN application or with SSN.

Filing married joint requires both signatures, the ITIN letter requires both signatures and original or notarized copy from originating agency of supporting documents.

So really, I could send the form for the ITIN to him so he could sign it now, right? Or he could download it, print, and sign and send to me (no copies I presume). I'm a little confused on "original or notarized copy from originating agency of supporting documents?" Are you referring to his income tax forms that are filled out by him in Pakistan?

I guess I was thinking that my husband could send me a copy of his income tax papers that he filled out in Pakistan and Serbia (where he exports to), and that I could use those to figure out our taxes and submit all those papers with my W-2????

[Shenzhen 34]

I filed an amended return after she arrived. No problems I think I did for 2 years too. Took her 18 months to get here. After all I supported her while I was waiting to get her here. She did not have a SSN I tried getting an ITIN for and was denied.

[Love To Teach 161]

Gosh, why would they deny somebody for that I wonder???

[NikLR 13,231]

Just a general question...I wonder if you have to pay more taxes as a single or as married filing separately? Anybody have experience with this? Also, since my husband already pays taxes in Pakistan and Serbia, does he still have to pay here on his entire income? He's not making that much compared to our standards in the US, but didn't I read something about not having to pay taxes on the first 68,000 of income? He's nowhere near that, but just wondering.

It's about the same, single and MFS. He probably would not have to pay taxes but it's possible. But honestly because he owns businesses it's really better for you to file MFS because otherwise it can get complicated. You'd be best to employ a tax professional with experience with immigration and foreign income should you choose do to the MFJ.

My husband filed his 2012 taxes as MFS because I was not living here. (I filed in Canada.) Initially he filed for an extension and then did his taxes after I immigrated and had an SSN. (He didn't want to do a paper return and owed no taxes.) In 2013 and 2014 we filed MFJ (and will again this year.) In 2013 I had to file taxes in both Canada and the USA because I made income in both places. You can claim a foreign exclusion up to about $97K using form 2555 if you qualify.

Edited December 27, 2015 by NLR

[Ryan H 3,819]

Posts split into separate thread as poster is posting about their own situation and not replying to the OP of the other thread. Please start your own thread with your own questions instead of hijacking threads started by other members.