Confused about how to file my taxes

[America15 0]

Hey All

I am a kind of confused how to file my taxes this year.

I have my green card since more than a week now. I already started to work in November when I got approved my EAD/AP Card.

So I worked part-time for 2-3 weeks (November-December) and since January 2016 I work full time. In December, I worked still part-time (Mo, Wed, Fr) at my part-time job but started to work at my full-time job the other days (Tues, Thu, Sa). Since Dec 28th I am registered at my full-time job and quieted my part-time job.

Now I have to file my taxes.

I've talked to a few ppl and they said that I probably did not even make enough money so I don't have to file my taxes. I don't believe that but don't know better.

My husband was in the military and never had to file taxes in his life so far. So he's also kind of lost with my situation.

At my green card interview the IO said that we can file together taxes but that I am not the head of the household even though, I m the only one with an income and who has to file taxes (my husband also gets paid for disability but never had to file taxes for it).

The last time I've filed my taxes was last year as an Au Pair around March/April. But I was an Au Pair until August so there is also a grew zone between March/April 2015 - August 2015.

So I am pretty much confused what to do or where to go to get some good help.

Hopefully you guys have a good advice for me.

Thank you so much in advance

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hey All

I am a kind of confused how to file my taxes this year.

I have my green card since more than a week now. I already started to work in November when I got approved my EAD/AP Card.

So I worked part-time for 2-3 weeks (November-December) and since January 2016 I work full time. In December, I worked still part-time (Mo, Wed, Fr) at my part-time job but started to work at my full-time job the other days (Tues, Thu, Sa). Since Dec 28th I am registered at my full-time job and quieted my part-time job.

Now I have to file my taxes.

I've talked to a few ppl and they said that I probably did not even make enough money so I don't have to file my taxes. I don't believe that but don't know better.

My husband was in the military and never had to file taxes in his life so far. So he's also kind of lost with my situation.

At my green card interview the IO said that we can file together taxes but that I am not the head of the household even though, I m the only one with an income and who has to file taxes (my husband also gets paid for disability but never had to file taxes for it).

The last time I've filed my taxes was last year as an Au Pair around March/April. But I was an Au Pair until August so there is also a grew zone between March/April 2015 - August 2015.

So I am pretty much confused what to do or where to go to get some good help.

Hopefully you guys have a good advice for me.

Thank you so much in advance

You have two choices--1) married filing jointly (MFJ) or 2) Married filing separately (MFS). To file as a resident you can either see if you mist file based on your time in the US or you can claim to be considered a resident for TAX PURPOSES. Which you chose is dependent on YOUR tax situation as to which method allows you AND your husband to pay the least amount in taxes.

You take your income and your husband's income and combine it and then all the deductions and see how much the two of you owe filing MFJ. Then take your income and your deductions and see how much you owe and do the same for your husband and see how much he owes. Combine the two amounts and see if MFS is more or less than MFJ. You can also file as a non-resident if you have not spend enough time in the US as a LPR, then only your husband needs to see if he is required to file a tax return and again you would file as MFS.

Dave

[Shauneg 762]

Why would your husband not have had to file taxes? He really didn't make enough in the military? Anyway, use this.... Sometimes googling your question is much faster and easier than here or asking friends.

https://www.irs.gov/uac/Do-I-Need-to-File-a-Tax-Return%3F

[NikLR 13,232]

If someone is deployed in the military they are not taxed on that income.

However despite that your husband should still file his taxes. Unless he really doesnt have to anymore due to VA disability. (Not sure how that works.)

Were you paid as an Au pair? If yes then that needed to be documented and taxed as well.

I would file taxes no matter what as this is evidence for ROC later on.

[Shauneg 762]

I just find it weird that at no point did he make enough that he had to file. Anyway off topic.

[NikLR 13,232]

I just find it weird that at no point did he make enough that he had to file. Anyway off topic.

I agree. First year he would have made enough

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

To America15

First you need to look at all the jobs and earnings you made in the US for any reason between Jan 1 and Dec 31 2015. Your post gets confusing because you mention your job now in 2016. Only money paid to you on a 2015 date. You should have been sent a form W2 or form 1099-MISC by the employer telling what you earned from him in 2015 and if any money was held out toward taxes. I can't even tell by your post if the au pair job had any pay during 2015.

So work out all the money you earned in 2015 before anybody can really help you.

[America15 0]

I don't think I have a W2 from my Au Pair time. Do I need a proof for my income in 2015 our can I just write down how much I made?

[NikLR 13,232]

No because you need to know how much you made before taxes and how much those taxes were.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I don't think I have a W2 from my Au Pair time. Do I need a proof for my income in 2015 our can I just write down how much I made?

If you were paid for work in the U.S. in 2015, then you need to contact whomever paid you...a person, an agency...

Tell them you need a wage statement for 2015. If it was considered contract work, your wage statement would be a 1099-MISC with nothing held out.