How to file after K1 Visa

[StephanieC 43]

I've seen a lot of similar questions but nothing that has made me feel comfortable yet. My now husband came over on a K1 visa in November this year. We married in December. We have filed for a SSN for him but it's still being processed. Likely, we will have the SSN in the next 2 weeks and will file taxes after. I'm not in a rush to file my taxes, but would like to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

During 2014 he lived and worked in Canada. If I file married and joint, will I include information from his T4 (Canadian version of W2)? Will he still need to file a return with Canada?

Thanks

[aaron2020 11,651]

I've seen a lot of similar questions but nothing that has made me feel comfortable yet. My now husband came over on a K1 visa in November this year. We married in December. We have filed for a SSN for him but it's still being processed. Likely, we will have the SSN in the next 2 weeks and will file taxes after. I'm not in a rush to file my taxes, but would like to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

During 2014 (you meant 2015 right?) he lived and worked in Canada. If I file married and joint, will I include information from his T4 (Canadian version of W2)? Will he still need to file a return with Canada?

Thanks

Please be aware that Canada taxes income earned only in Canada while the US taxes income earned worldwide.

Your husband will need to file a 2015 Canadian tax return since he had Canadian sourced income.

Since your husband did not have US sourced income, he is not obligated to file a 2015 US tax return. If he files a joint return with you, he will need to report his Canadian income. He will get a Foreign Earned Income Exemption and is unlikely to owe any US taxes if he earned less than $95,000.

This is not a DIY. It would be advisable to pay a real accountant (not H&R Block, etc.) familiar with US taxes and foreign taxes to do the tax return for 2015.

[StephanieC 43]

I did mean 2015. Thank you for the correction. He made less than 25k for the year. I'm a bit apprehensive about sites like HR block and Turbo tax so your recommendation is well received. Thank you again

[~Alessa~ 26]

I've seen a lot of similar questions but nothing that has made me feel comfortable yet. My now husband came over on a K1 visa in November this year. We married in December. We have filed for a SSN for him but it's still being processed. Likely, we will have the SSN in the next 2 weeks and will file taxes after. I'm not in a rush to file my taxes, but would like to make sure I'm doing it correctly.

During 2014 he lived and worked in Canada. If I file married and joint, will I include information from his T4 (Canadian version of W2)? Will he still need to file a return with Canada?

Thanks

Excuse me, Stephanie, I have a question if you don't mind. What means "sent packet 3" and "packet 3 received" in your timeline?

I thought after embassy receiving petition from NVC, I only have to gather some documents (police records) and make an appointment without sending anything anywhere.

Oooh...or is this embassy sending packet 3 to me, foreign fiance, address and I will have to bring that packet to interview?

Edited December 28, 2015 by ~Alessa~

[StephanieC 43]

Excuse me, Stephanie, I have a question if you don't mind. What means "sent packet 3" and "packet 3 received" in your timeline?

I thought after embassy receiving petition from NVC, I only have to gather some documents (police records) and make an appointment without sending anything anywhere.

Hello. Every embassy is different with their requirements. This was a particular requirement for the Canadian Embassy.

[AB loves AG 54]

The first year my husband was here with dual income in both countries we decided to just pay a tax accountant to figure it out for us. It cost us about $150 -$200 to get both federal and state done. HR Block are tax preparers and not accountants and are not familiar with our situations. Well worth the money and ease of mind of knowing our taxes were done right.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I did mean 2015. Thank you for the correction. He made less than 25k for the year. I'm a bit apprehensive about sites like HR block and Turbo tax so your recommendation is well received. Thank you again

TurboTax handles it, but no e-filing this first year. It would benefit you to read the "rules" from the IRS in Publication 519 so you understand that you must each declare that you wish for your husband to be treated as a resident for tax purposes. That is written out, signed by both, and submitted with a paper return. See this starting at the bottom of column one https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf#page9. It will tell you what to include in the statement.

If you buy TurboTax on a disk and install on a computer, you can print out your return easily and mail. It knows how to do the foreign income exclusion, even buying the cheap version called Basic. . I did ours when my K1 husband came and have have done it for other people in subsequent years. I already tried the 2015 TurboTax app on my iPad and it's rubbish. Buy the desktop edition. Check prices at Target, BestBuy, WalMart, Staples, etc. Many will be offered on sale in January.