Green Card Tax Implications

[ptrober 0]

Currently as a "non-resident alien" (my green card interview is not till Friday) I am bound by the following conditions regarding the witholding of tax by my employer:

A nonresident alien subject to wage withholding must give the employer a completed Form W-4 to enable the employer to figure how much income tax to withhold. In completing the form, nonresident aliens should use the following instructions instead of the instructions on Form W-4.

1. Check only "Single" marital status on line 3 (regardless of actual marital status).

2. Claim only one withholding allowance on line 5, unless you are a resident of Canada, Mexico, South Korea, a U.S. national, or a student or business apprentice from India.

3. Request that additional tax of $7.60 per week be withheld on line 6. If the pay period is two weeks, request that $15.30 be withheld instead. For other payroll periods, refer to the amounts shown in Chapter 9 of Publication 15 (Circular E).

4. Do not claim "Exempt" withholding status on line 7.

These instructions restrict a nonresident alien's filing status, generally limit the number of allowable exemptions, and require additional tax to be withheld because a nonresident alien cannot claim the standard deduction.

If my green card is approved on Friday and I become a "resident alien" for tax purposes, can I immediately change my witholdings certificate (W4) with my employer so that I am entitled to the standard deductions applicable to US citizens?

Thanks!

Pete

[Autumnal 25]

I'm honestly not sure about this one. However, can you put off filling out the paperwork until you get your green card? That might be one solution. I assume also that you can alter your status through the year.

[motu 6]

Your profile shows K1. So, I am assuming you are married - if married you can file as married filing jointly and you can fill out the W-4 the way you want.

If you want more withheld - choose 1 or 0; if you want less withheld choose 2 or 3 or more. Remember - next year you will end up paying more in taxes if you had less withheld (or get a bigger refund if you had more withheld.) Good Luck

editing to say that she is considered a resident alien because she is married to you (so forget about the non-resident alien part. You are confusing yourself.)

Edited March 15, 2006 by motu

[Yodrak 7]

Pete,

Don't confuse what the IRS calls a resident alien with what the USCIS calls a Lawful Permanent Resident. You may not be the latter, but you probably are the former.

Yodrak

Currently as a "non-resident alien" (my green card interview is not till Friday) I am bound by the following conditions regarding the witholding of tax by my employer:

A nonresident alien subject to wage withholding must give the employer a completed Form W-4 to enable the employer to figure how much income tax to withhold. In completing the form, nonresident aliens should use the following instructions instead of the instructions on Form W-4.

1. Check only "Single" marital status on line 3 (regardless of actual marital status).

2. Claim only one withholding allowance on line 5, unless you are a resident of Canada, Mexico, South Korea, a U.S. national, or a student or business apprentice from India.

3. Request that additional tax of $7.60 per week be withheld on line 6. If the pay period is two weeks, request that $15.30 be withheld instead. For other payroll periods, refer to the amounts shown in Chapter 9 of Publication 15 (Circular E).

4. Do not claim "Exempt" withholding status on line 7.

These instructions restrict a nonresident alien's filing status, generally limit the number of allowable exemptions, and require additional tax to be withheld because a nonresident alien cannot claim the standard deduction.

If my green card is approved on Friday and I become a "resident alien" for tax purposes, can I immediately change my witholdings certificate (W4) with my employer so that I am entitled to the standard deductions applicable to US citizens?

Thanks!

Pete

[tamz 0]

What about the substantial presence test? It can help you determine what your status in the USA is depending on how long you are in the USA for tax purposes.

Substantial Presence Test <-Link to the IRS site

Substantial Presence Test

You will be considered a U.S. resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year. To meet this test, you must be physically present in the United States on at least:

31 days during the current year, and

183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting:

All the days you were present in the current year, and

1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and

1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the current year.

Example:

You were physically present in the United States on 120 days in each of the years 2002, 2003, and 2004. To determine if you meet the substantial presence test for 2004, count the full 120 days of presence in 2004, 40 days in 2003 (1/3 of 120), and 20 days in 2002 (1/6 of 120). Since the total for the 3-year period is 180 days, you are not considered a resident under the substantial presence test for 2004.

Days of Presence in the United States

You are treated as present in the United States on any day you are physically present in the country, at any time during the day. However, there are exceptions to this rule. Do not count the following as days of presence in the United States for the substantial presence test.

Days you commute to work in the United States from a residence in Canada or Mexico, if you regularly commute from Canada or Mexico.

Days you are in the United States for less than 24 hours, when you are in transit between two places outside the United States.

Days you are in the United States as a crew member of a foreign vessel.

Days you are unable to leave the United States because of a medical condition that develops while you are in the United States.

Days you are an exempt individual.

For details on days excluded from the substantial presence test for other than exempt individuals, refer to Publication 519, U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens,.

Exempt Individual

Do not count days for which you are an exempt individual. The term "exempt individual " does not refer to someone exempt from U.S. tax, but to anyone in the following categories who is exempt from counting days of presence in the U.S.:

An individual temporarily present in the United States as a foreign government-related individual

A teacher or trainee temporarily present in the United States under a "J " or "Q " visa, who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa

A student temporarily present in the United States under an "F, " "J, " "M, " or "Q " visa, who substantially complies with the requirements of the visa

A professional athlete temporarily in the United States to compete in a charitable sports event

If you exclude days of presence in the United States because you fall into a special category, you must file a fully-completed Form 8843, Statement for Exempt Individuals and Individuals with a Medical Condition (PDF).

Closer Connection Exception to the Substantial Presence Test

Even if you passed the substantial presence test you can still be treated as a nonresident alien if you qualify for one of the following exceptions;

The closer connection exception available to all aliens. Please refer to Conditions for a Closer Connection to a Foreign Country.

The closer connection exception available only to students. Please refer to The Closer Connection Exception to the Substantial Presence Test for Foreign Students and Sample Letter.