Do we file taxes or not?

[yuna628 9,676]

Hi guys,

It'll be tax time soon, and I'm trying to sort out my specific tax situation with my husband and my dad.

I am not employed (but will be taking employment by summer), so by definition I currently am not required to file taxes. I looked after my mother that has cancer.

My dad had been claiming me as a dependent on his taxes, and he will be retired by the time he files this year. He uses a CPA who I am hoping will be familiar with these questions too.

I married my husband in September 2015, and we have just received his EAD and he will be looking for work soon. Before he arrived to the US in August 2015, he was employed in the UK. He estimates (and will double check for me) that he made a rough equivalent to just under $7,000 that part of the year.

So questions just so that I'm clear, because the whole tax thing is wildly confusing.

--

Am I and my husband supposed to be filing taxes this year?

I understand that if we do file we should be filing married filing jointly (I would no longer be claimed as a dependent on my dad's taxes) and that we should send in a letter declaring resident for tax purposes. Is there another form that we'd send in with the standard form?

Would we owe anything on his worldwide income?

Or are we not supposed to be filing taxes yet as we are both not yet employed within the US?

If we are not supposed to file, can I still be claimed on my dad's taxes regardless of me being married until I am/husband is employed?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

You have zero income in 2015 and I assume you don't have a bunch of interest and dividends from your investments. The IRS does not require you to file. (If your Dad supported you, then he is claiming you as a dependent to benefit his taxes. That is a separate issue and not really tied to your requirement to file.)

Your husband did not earn any money in the U.S. He does not have to file.

The reason for filing jointly with your spouse is to lower your tax bill. Can't get any lower than zero so no point. You have no tax bill.

[yuna628 9,676]

You have zero income in 2015 and I assume you don't have a bunch of interest and dividends from your investments. The IRS does not require you to file. (If your Dad supported you, then he is claiming you as a dependent to benefit his taxes. That is a separate issue and not really tied to your requirement to file.)

Your husband did not earn any money in the U.S. He does not have to file.

The reason for filing jointly with your spouse is to lower your tax bill. Can't get any lower than zero so no point. You have no tax bill.

Thanks Nich-Nick, I needed some clarity!