New green card holder, no income - do I file taxes?

[treacle1015 11]

Hi

Apologies, there are answers to versions of this question around but would appreciate your response based on your experience and knowledge. Taxes feel very complicated!

UK resident, arrived US Aug 2015 on K1

Married USC Oct 2015

EAD approved Jan 2016

Green card approved Jan 2016

I have not worked in the US, but did work from Jan-July 2015 in the UK. I received a tax refund from the UK on the UK money earned. I now have zero income from either country (except for small amounts of interests on savings in the UK)

I want to do the right thing. I have not earned here, so legally speaking do I complete a return at all?

I read that if my husband and I MFJ it may entitle us to a higher threshold and therefore a possible higher refund. Am I understanding correctly?

Just want to do the right thing and the best way for our situation.

Many thanks for your response.

[BirdyGirl85 23]

Well your husband is married, so he has to file as being married. I don't know if that will give a higher refund by doing that. But he has to filled as being married since he is married now. I am the USC. When my husband first moved here, I filed as Married Filing Jointly and added his name to the taxes even though he did not work in the U.S. that year. In that situation, I don't think you can really even file married separately, because the non USC spouse had no U.S. income to file taxes for. We always file MFJ.

Edited March 7, 2016 by BirdyGirl85

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Hi

Apologies, there are answers to versions of this question around but would appreciate your response based on your experience and knowledge. Taxes feel very complicated!

UK resident, arrived US Aug 2015 on K1

Married USC Oct 2015

EAD approved Jan 2016

Green card approved Jan 2016

I have not worked in the US, but did work from Jan-July 2015 in the UK. I received a tax refund from the UK on the UK money earned. I now have zero income from either country (except for small amounts of interests on savings in the UK)

I want to do the right thing. I have not earned here, so legally speaking do I complete a return at all?

I read that if my husband and I MFJ it may entitle us to a higher threshold and therefore a possible higher refund. Am I understanding correctly?

Just want to do the right thing and the best way for our situation.

Many thanks for your response.

You have no obligation to file for 2015. Your American spouse could file Married filing separately.

Filing jointly, even reporting your UK money would probably work out better as you have read in threads.

[treacle1015 11]

You have no obligation to file for 2015. Your American spouse could file Married filing separately.

Filing jointly, even reporting your UK money would probably work out better as you have read in threads.

Great- thank you for the response - gives me clarity.

Well your husband is married, so he has to file as being married. I don't know if that will give a higher refund by doing that. But he has to filled as being married since he is married now. I am the USC. When my husband first moved here, I filed as Married Filing Jointly and added his name to the taxes even though he did not work in the U.S. that year. In that situation, I don't think you can really even file married separately, because the non USC spouse had no U.S. income to file taxes for. We always file MFJ.

Thank you for your reply!