proof of current income as self-employed

[pilotkausa 5]

My husband and I are about to file for AoS for me, (I'm on F1 visa)

He has been self employed for last 2.5 years.

He doesn't have any professional licensing, he works as a automotive technician, mostly for cash.

We filed taxes as MFJ in 2014 and his individual income and out total household income exceeds the poverty guideline.

I am confused how can we proof what his current income is. We don't use a CPA, we did out taxes ourselves. His bank account statement would not represent how much he currently makes because he rarely deposits money into the account. We could provide a self written letter of employment but would it be sufficient? I am trying to avoid RFE...

thank you for your time.

Edited January 15, 2016 by pilotkausa

[OlenkaKyiv 3]

His separate tax return for 2013 and your joint tax return are good documents to begin with. I assume he reports his income on Schedule C of the tax return. For the years without tax return filed, like for 2015, he can provide profit and loss statement (either QuickBooks or simple spreadsheet with income and expenses breakdown). By the time you get interview, your 2015 tax return will likely be already filed, so you can bring a copy of your 2015 tax return.

All these documents would work for IRS to confirm your self-employment income, although IRS also asks for bank statements. My guess the same documents may work for the USCIS.

In fact, I just looked up instructions for Affidavit of Support, that state practically the same thing I wrote above:

If you selected Part 6., Item Number 1.b. that you are self-employed, you should have completed one of the following

forms with your Federal income tax return: Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business), Schedule D (Capital Gains),

Schedule E (Supplemental Income or Loss), or Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming). You must include each and

every Form 1040 Schedule, if any, that you filed with your Federal income tax return.

As a note unrelated to your AOS, your husband should keep detailed paperwork (like receipts, statements, bills) confirming his income and expenses, because he can get into a trouble with his "cash dealings" if there is an IRS audit (by trouble I mean additional tax assessed and expenses disallowed).

Good luck!