I-864 Tax Help..!!?

[Poi_n_J 0]

Hi

Just wondering now that they only ask for one tax return but still ask if you've filed in the past two years is this checked?

Hubby's was schooling and only had cash in hand jobs for which he didn't file his taxes...says he didn't really earn enough....not sure which path to take???

He's already said in the G-325A forms that he worked.

?????????

[homesick_american 1]

Hi

Just wondering now that they only ask for one tax return but still ask if you've filed in the past two years is this checked?

Hubby's was schooling and only had cash in hand jobs for which he didn't file his taxes...says he didn't really earn enough....not sure which path to take???

He's already said in the G-325A forms that he worked.

?????????

Uh oh, a boo boo.

If you haven't filed in the past two years, don't say you have.

When you're filing from overseas you do NOT have to provide proof of your income with a 2555-EZ; you just have to attach a statement stating what your income was and how you converted the currency from whatever to US dollars, i.e. what exchange rate did you use and how did you arrive at that figure. You do not have to provide paycheck stubs or any other end of fiscal year form. Therefore, he COULD still file the return even if the work was cash-in-hand, which you shouldn't do anyway for obvious reasons.

Get him to just phone the IRS to ask them what he should do. They don't bite....hard.

[Poi_n_J 0]

Uh oh, a boo boo.

If you haven't filed in the past two years, don't say you have.

When you're filing from overseas you do NOT have to provide proof of your income with a 2555-EZ; you just have to attach a statement stating what your income was and how you converted the currency from whatever to US dollars, i.e. what exchange rate did you use and how did you arrive at that figure. You do not have to provide paycheck stubs or any other end of fiscal year form. Therefore, he COULD still file the return even if the work was cash-in-hand, which you shouldn't do anyway for obvious reasons.

Get him to just phone the IRS to ask them what he should do. They don't bite....hard.

Lol.. yeah, scary booboo....

That is what I thought, some annonymous inside information would be helpful.

He's just filed in time for last year so he can produce one tax return but just not the other two.

Thanks for your help...hope you aren't too homesick...

[homesick_american 1]

Uh oh, a boo boo.

If you haven't filed in the past two years, don't say you have.

When you're filing from overseas you do NOT have to provide proof of your income with a 2555-EZ; you just have to attach a statement stating what your income was and how you converted the currency from whatever to US dollars, i.e. what exchange rate did you use and how did you arrive at that figure. You do not have to provide paycheck stubs or any other end of fiscal year form. Therefore, he COULD still file the return even if the work was cash-in-hand, which you shouldn't do anyway for obvious reasons.

Get him to just phone the IRS to ask them what he should do. They don't bite....hard.

Lol.. yeah, scary booboo....

That is what I thought, some annonymous inside information would be helpful.

He's just filed in time for last year so he can produce one tax return but just not the other two.

Thanks for your help...hope you aren't too homesick...

No problem. However you should double-check with the IRS. If he's a student and isn't working too much he may not even have to file at all, i.e. he may not make enough. I don't know what that figure is anymore. Tax law is extremely complicated and all I can share is my own experiences of filling in 2555-EZs for exempting my foreign income.

I just talked to the IRS last night to ask them questions about my husband's filing obligations (he's now a PR for tax purposes) and about the sale of our house here in the UK. They were courteous and helpful throughout; they're nothing to be afraid of. Basically they get pissy with people when they try to lie or cheat their way out of something but if you're honest and up-front with them they will help you get things sorted out.

[MargotDarko 0]

Uh oh, a boo boo.

If you haven't filed in the past two years, don't say you have.

When you're filing from overseas you do NOT have to provide proof of your income with a 2555-EZ; you just have to attach a statement stating what your income was and how you converted the currency from whatever to US dollars, i.e. what exchange rate did you use and how did you arrive at that figure. You do not have to provide paycheck stubs or any other end of fiscal year form. Therefore, he COULD still file the return even if the work was cash-in-hand, which you shouldn't do anyway for obvious reasons.

Get him to just phone the IRS to ask them what he should do. They don't bite....hard.

Lol.. yeah, scary booboo....

That is what I thought, some annonymous inside information would be helpful.

He's just filed in time for last year so he can produce one tax return but just not the other two.

Thanks for your help...hope you aren't too homesick...

No problem. However you should double-check with the IRS. If he's a student and isn't working too much he may not even have to file at all, i.e. he may not make enough. I don't know what that figure is anymore. Tax law is extremely complicated and all I can share is my own experiences of filling in 2555-EZs for exempting my foreign income.

I just talked to the IRS last night to ask them questions about my husband's filing obligations (he's now a PR for tax purposes) and about the sale of our house here in the UK. They were courteous and helpful throughout; they're nothing to be afraid of. Basically they get pissy with people when they try to lie or cheat their way out of something but if you're honest and up-front with them they will help you get things sorted out.

I am really starting to feel anxious about filing my 2006 taxes. I've been reading pages and pages on the IRS web site, and I know that I have some extra time as I qualify for filing the 2555, but I've never done my own taxes before even back in the states. I don't have the money to pay anyone for this time around.

Have you filed for 2006 yet? Can I ask a couple questions? My husband is also a PR for tax purposes. I had no US income in 2006. So I believe what I'll need to do is get the hubby to do a W7, do a joint 1040 (so I can claim my student loan interest as deduction) and a 2555. I looked at eFiling, but the instructions on where to put income totals seemed to be saying the wrong line numbers. Was eFiling pretty easy? Did you use a specific online site that was good? Also, did you husband have to fill out a 2555 and should we use our UK address on everything? I sort of have a US address as I have a permanent welcome at my parents' house.

I should just call and ask all my questions, but I feel I need to figure as much as I can on my own so I know I'm asking the right questions. Besides, this week probably isn't the best time to call!

[homesick_american 1]

I am really starting to feel anxious about filing my 2006 taxes. I've been reading pages and pages on the IRS web site, and I know that I have some extra time as I qualify for filing the 2555, but I've never done my own taxes before even back in the states. I don't have the money to pay anyone for this time around.

Don't be scared. I've never paid anyone to do my taxes either and I haven't had a problem yet (touch wood). Everything I am about to tell you is what was told to me by representatives of the IRS, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of it; everything I tell you should be verified with the IRS themselves. I'm not an accountant or a tax lawyer; I would not consider myself above average in US tax knowledge. Having said that...

Have you filed for 2006 yet? Can I ask a couple questions? My husband is also a PR for tax purposes. I had no US income in 2006. So I believe what I'll need to do is get the hubby to do a W7, do a joint 1040 (so I can claim my student loan interest as deduction) and a 2555. I looked at eFiling, but the instructions on where to put income totals seemed to be saying the wrong line numbers. Was eFiling pretty easy? Did you use a specific online site that was good? Also, did you husband have to fill out a 2555 and should we use our UK address on everything? I sort of have a US address as I have a permanent welcome at my parents' house.

I have not filed my 2006 return yet; I had counted on doing that tonight. I file every year so the IRS sends me a little booklet with all the forms I need plus an addressed envelope to send them in. All I have to do is put a stamp on it and I'm ready to rock and roll. I fill the forms out the same way each year so I just look at how I filled in last year's return and work from that, obviously adjusting income where necessary.

I don't know anything about claiming interest as a deduction; if you live overseas I'm not sure what you qualify to deduct if you exempt your foreign income. That is a question for the IRS to answer. My tax returns have always been extremely straightforward; no student loans, no weird investments, no cashed-out 401ks, no alimony/child support, none of that. I guess that's why I always do my own.

It doesn't matter where your income came from. If you worked and your income was above the filing limit, you MUST file a return. I do not do e-Filing here in the UK because of the problems I've had with software; e-Filing and tax software is made for US filers located in the US and isn't good for unique situations like ours. Filling in the paperwork is pretty easy and if you get stuck you can use the IRS's 1-800 numbers from the UK to help you. I doubt it's toll-free, but you don't have to scour the site for a direct-dial number either.

To answer some of the questions:

* If your husband is a PR for tax purposes he must file a return.

* If you (I'm assuming you're a USC) worked in 2006 and earned more than a few thousand dollars you must file a return.

* You two do NOT have to file jointly if you don't want to.

* If you are both overseas you both automatically qualify for a 2-month extension; you do not have to file a piece of paper...but if you owe any taxes to the IRS they are payable FROM April 17th of this year. If you pay later you will be charged interest.

* You can use your UK address on the return; in fact you have to meet an overseas residency requirement in order to file a 2555-EZ so by all means, use your UK address.

* The 2555-EZ is for people whose foreign earned income did not exceed the exemption limit, which last time I looked was 82,000 USD. If your individual income exceeds this limit then I don't know what you can do; that's a question for the IRS to answer.

I should just call and ask all my questions, but I feel I need to figure as much as I can on my own so I know I'm asking the right questions. Besides, this week probably isn't the best time to call!

If this is your first time filing from overseas I strongly recommend reading every set of instructions that accompanies the 1040 and 2555/2555-EZ forms. Those should answer a lot of questions, but you can get someone on the phone from the IRS to go over the forms with you, line by line. They don't charge you for that service.

Don't worry if you don't ask the right questions; they don't ask you for your name or SSN when you call so they have no way to know it was you who called. They're not noting down things on your file or anything; they're just there to answer your questions and to help you. Every time I've called the IRS the people I've spoken to have been courteous, professional, and very helpful...and have never chewed me out or laughed at me for the questions I've asked.

Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. It's stupid to NOT ask the question.

[MargotDarko 0]

I am really starting to feel anxious about filing my 2006 taxes. I've been reading pages and pages on the IRS web site, and I know that I have some extra time as I qualify for filing the 2555, but I've never done my own taxes before even back in the states. I don't have the money to pay anyone for this time around.

Don't be scared. I've never paid anyone to do my taxes either and I haven't had a problem yet (touch wood). Everything I am about to tell you is what was told to me by representatives of the IRS, but I cannot guarantee the accuracy of it; everything I tell you should be verified with the IRS themselves. I'm not an accountant or a tax lawyer; I would not consider myself above average in US tax knowledge. Having said that...

Have you filed for 2006 yet? Can I ask a couple questions? My husband is also a PR for tax purposes. I had no US income in 2006. So I believe what I'll need to do is get the hubby to do a W7, do a joint 1040 (so I can claim my student loan interest as deduction) and a 2555. I looked at eFiling, but the instructions on where to put income totals seemed to be saying the wrong line numbers. Was eFiling pretty easy? Did you use a specific online site that was good? Also, did you husband have to fill out a 2555 and should we use our UK address on everything? I sort of have a US address as I have a permanent welcome at my parents' house.

I have not filed my 2006 return yet; I had counted on doing that tonight. I file every year so the IRS sends me a little booklet with all the forms I need plus an addressed envelope to send them in. All I have to do is put a stamp on it and I'm ready to rock and roll. I fill the forms out the same way each year so I just look at how I filled in last year's return and work from that, obviously adjusting income where necessary.

I don't know anything about claiming interest as a deduction; if you live overseas I'm not sure what you qualify to deduct if you exempt your foreign income. That is a question for the IRS to answer. My tax returns have always been extremely straightforward; no student loans, no weird investments, no cashed-out 401ks, no alimony/child support, none of that. I guess that's why I always do my own.

It doesn't matter where your income came from. If you worked and your income was above the filing limit, you MUST file a return. I do not do e-Filing here in the UK because of the problems I've had with software; e-Filing and tax software is made for US filers located in the US and isn't good for unique situations like ours. Filling in the paperwork is pretty easy and if you get stuck you can use the IRS's 1-800 numbers from the UK to help you. I doubt it's toll-free, but you don't have to scour the site for a direct-dial number either.

To answer some of the questions:

* If your husband is a PR for tax purposes he must file a return.

* If you (I'm assuming you're a USC) worked in 2006 and earned more than a few thousand dollars you must file a return.

* You two do NOT have to file jointly if you don't want to.

* If you are both overseas you both automatically qualify for a 2-month extension; you do not have to file a piece of paper...but if you owe any taxes to the IRS they are payable FROM April 17th of this year. If you pay later you will be charged interest.

* You can use your UK address on the return; in fact you have to meet an overseas residency requirement in order to file a 2555-EZ so by all means, use your UK address.

* The 2555-EZ is for people whose foreign earned income did not exceed the exemption limit, which last time I looked was 82,000 USD. If your individual income exceeds this limit then I don't know what you can do; that's a question for the IRS to answer.

I should just call and ask all my questions, but I feel I need to figure as much as I can on my own so I know I'm asking the right questions. Besides, this week probably isn't the best time to call!

If this is your first time filing from overseas I strongly recommend reading every set of instructions that accompanies the 1040 and 2555/2555-EZ forms. Those should answer a lot of questions, but you can get someone on the phone from the IRS to go over the forms with you, line by line. They don't charge you for that service.

Don't worry if you don't ask the right questions; they don't ask you for your name or SSN when you call so they have no way to know it was you who called. They're not noting down things on your file or anything; they're just there to answer your questions and to help you. Every time I've called the IRS the people I've spoken to have been courteous, professional, and very helpful...and have never chewed me out or laughed at me for the questions I've asked.

Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question. It's stupid to NOT ask the question.

Thanks for the detailed response! That's really helpful. And it's very reassuring to hear about your experience calling the IRS hotline. I will try to tackle the forms again and then give the line a call once the tax season for regular filers is over. Thanks again.

[homesick_american 1]

Thanks for the detailed response! That's really helpful. And it's very reassuring to hear about your experience calling the IRS hotline. I will try to tackle the forms again and then give the line a call once the tax season for regular filers is over. Thanks again.

No problem...happy to help. The first time I had to call the IRS my hands were so sweaty that I kept dropping the phone. They were fine though and I don't get nervous calling them now.

You don't have to wait until tax season is over...and both of you are 'regular filers' so don't hesitate to call now. You may spend a little more time on hold, but I'm guessing they're pulling long shifts in the call centers in the US until the tax deadline. I spent maybe 5 minutes on hold the other day before I got to talk to a genuine human being.

The number is 1-800-829-1040; just dial 001 800 829 1040 from here in the UK and follow the voice menus. The line is open from 7am to 10pm in all four time zones so even if you call right this second, someone will answer.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

(to the mods: I think maybe it might be a good idea to have a forum or subforum for tax questions; there seem to be a lot of them, and a lot of USCs seem to be confused about their filing obligations....just a thought...a lot of people don't know they are required to file no matter where they live.)

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

(to the mods: I think maybe it might be a good idea to have a forum or subforum for tax questions; there seem to be a lot of them, and a lot of USCs seem to be confused about their filing obligations....just a thought...a lot of people don't know they are required to file no matter where they live.)

I second the motion! It's that time of year when we're all thinking about taxes and a subforum would be of immense help, in my opinion.

[Poi_n_J 0]

(to the mods: I think maybe it might be a good idea to have a forum or subforum for tax questions; there seem to be a lot of them, and a lot of USCs seem to be confused about their filing obligations....just a thought...a lot of people don't know they are required to file no matter where they live.)

I second the motion! It's that time of year when we're all thinking about taxes and a subforum would be of immense help, in my opinion.

Me too....especially since it's such an important part of this process.....!