n400 Filing Taxes

[Jive2017 0]

Hi,

 

After a person received their greencard but continuous to work outside the US thus generating foreign income (which is lower than the exclusion which is allowed < $100K), does the person still need to file taxes? Also if the person has forgotten to file taxes for the foreign income earned (which is lower than the exclusion amount) can they back file? The only income earned by the person is foreign income and no US or other income. Thanks.

[andy78 178]

I don't know where the $100K number comes from or what the "exclusion" is.

 

A green card holder is considered a US resident for tax purposes. Here is example: For the tax year 2016, if you are single, under 65 years of age, and your income is $10,350 or more, you have to file taxes for that year, regardless of source of income.

 

 

Edited May 3, 2017 by andy78

[Jive2017 0]

I do understand that but foreign income may qualify for an exclusion for income up to an amount of your foreign earnings that is adjusted annually for inflation ($92,900 for 2011, $95,100 for 2012, $97,600 for 2013, $99,200 for 2014 and $100,800 for 2015)...see link below. This is what I was referring to.

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion

[andy78 178]

Ok. But you would still have to file your tax return in order to claim the foreign income tax exclusion. So you would file form 1040 as usual, and then use the applicable forms from the list at the bottom of the page you linked.

 

You can file late. I don't know if there are fines for late filing if you don't owe any late taxes.

Edited May 3, 2017 by andy78

[candybabe 46]

Not filing the appropriate tax forms ( regardless of level / type of income if > than the minimum limit) is considered lack of good moral character and a reason for denial of citizenship. If you are denied you will need to wait another 5 years to demonstrate remediation actions / behavior.

You should file as soon as you can and if you owe any taxes you should establish a payment plan and honor it - you will need to provide proof of that agreement with the IRS and payments at your interview -

Also on a personal note, I find it difficult to believe that a person can "forget" to file taxes especially since in the US, April 15 is such a huge deadline. Unless you are dead, you will be reminded of it one way or the other......

[sd2017 18]

I assume the OP's confusion is that if you earn less than the standard deduction (plus one exemption if you're not a dependent), you don't need to file a tax return. But, the foreign income counts towards that income limit, it's simply that you're allowed to deduct up to $100K from that income for the purposes of computing your taxable income.

[MyJourney 276]

you have to report your income regardless of your knowledge and/or assumption that you may or may not owe anything to the government in income taxes. You have to report it. if you owe even one cent in income taxes, you must pay it, if you don't owe anything and break even (which is rare) that is cool, if you overpaid income tax then government will pay you back.
The fact of the matter is, you MUST report your taxable income to IRS.

Edited May 8, 2017 by MyJourney