Tax Evidence for N400

[Maxheadspace 48]

I'm about to file my wife's N400 using the online submission portal.  For the tax evidence, I am submitting photocopies of my "Married Filing Joint" tax submission forms with our signatures on them (i.e., Form 1040).  Is that sufficient, or does it need to be something official from the IRS showing we filed our taxes?  They mention as an example, "An IRS tax transcript listing tax information for the past 3 years."

[Illiria 980]

10 minutes ago, Maxheadspace said:

I'm about to file my wife's N400 using the online submission portal.  For the tax evidence, I am submitting photocopies of my "Married Filing Joint" tax submission forms with our signatures on them (i.e., Form 1040).  Is that sufficient, or does it need to be something official from the IRS showing we filed our taxes?  They mention as an example, "An IRS tax transcript listing tax information for the past 3 years."

Nothing showing you submitted the 1040 but you also need copies of your w2s if you are using copies of the 1040, plus sometimes they can come back and ask for all the schedules etc.. Tax transcripts are much easier way of showing it as you don’t have to include the w2s, etc..

[geowrian 22,337]

A tax transcript is usually the simplest, but the 1040 + W-2s/1099s/schedules should be sufficient.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

 

For reference, MFJ or MFS doesn't matter...just so long as they claimed to be married while married.

Edited April 21, 2018 by geowrian

[Maxheadspace 48]

Just now, Illiria said:

Nothing showing you submitted the 1040 but you also need copies of your w2s if you are using copies of the 1040, plus sometimes they can come back and ask for all the schedules etc.. Tax transcripts are much easier way of showing it as you don’t have to include the w2s, etc..

True, although there's the question as to whether the tax documents need to be submitted in the first place.  Other threads are suggesting the tax forms are not needed with the N400.  I feel safer submitting, since taxes are one of the prominent categories of evidence in the online form.

[Illiria 980]

Just now, Maxheadspace said:

True, although there's the question as to whether the tax documents need to be submitted in the first place.  Other threads are suggesting the tax forms are not needed with the N400.  I feel safer submitting, since taxes are one of the prominent categories of evidence in the online form.

Yeah, saw that which is weird as others have had to show them at interview even after including them in their application. 

[Maxheadspace 48]

Just now, Illiria said:

Yeah, saw that which is weird as others have had to show them at interview even after including them in their application. 

Well, what I've noticed is that if the evidence is insufficient, they normally ask for the additional info at the interview.  I was thinking "I'm not waiting months to request documents from the IRS before submitting the N400", but then geowrian  was kind enough to provide an IRS link to download that info online.  Thanks Illiria and thanks geowrian!

[Maxheadspace 48]

10 minutes ago, geowrian said:

For reference, MFJ or MFS doesn't matter...just so long as they claimed to be married while married.

Of course, but MFJ is half the pages! 

[Maxheadspace 48]

34 minutes ago, geowrian said:

A tax transcript is usually the simplest, but the 1040 + W-2s/1099s/schedules should be sufficient.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript

Blazingly fast!  Five minutes and I had all my IRS account transcripts downloaded.  Hard to imagine a branch of the Federal government that's gotten efficient!  Thanks again for the link, geowrian.

[geowrian 22,337]

2 minutes ago, Maxheadspace said:

Blazingly fast!  Five minutes and I had all my IRS account transcripts downloaded.  Hard to imagine a branch of the Federal government that's gotten efficient!  Thanks again for the link, geowrian.

Yup, actually not bad at all.

Don't worry...there are circumstances where it doesn't work for some people and is still grossly inefficient.

Edited April 21, 2018 by geowrian

[Sukie 1,452]

Submitting tax transcripts does three things:

 

1. Proves you are a good prospective citizen because you have filed your taxes

2. If you are filing based on marriage, it shows "continuity" of the marriage (because of MFS or MFJ).

3.  It's shorter and easier than uploading big pdf files of 1040s and W-2s.

 

I am one of those people who, for some reason, can never get my transcripts via the online system - but they always arrive in the mail within about 4-5 working days.

 

Sukie in NY

[NJI751 12]

N/a

Edited April 22, 2018 by NJI751

[Enigma11561 336]

Only Fed returns? And schedules? No state? I know we did this awhile back but as a married individual. Our friend is single, Same deal?

Edited April 22, 2018 by Enigma11561
Additional info

[inqztve 42]

On 4/21/2018 at 9:36 PM, Enigma11561 said:

Only Fed returns? And schedules? No state? I know we did this awhile back but as a married individual. Our friend is single, Same deal?

Yes, Only Federal return. No state. They ask for certified copy from IRS. If that is not available (I didn't have it), federal transcript is enough.

 

You can setup your account with IRS (if you don't have it already) and download those in minutes: 

 

https://sa.www4.irs.gov/eauth/pub/login.jsp?Data=VGFyZ2V0TG9BPUY%3D&TYPE=33554433&REALMOID=06-000e9548-6cd3-16f7-9748-483c0adb4007&GUID=&SMAUTHREASON=0&METHOD=GET&SMAGENTNAME=UOkC7yx4eMTO24FGxPfBRb5q3Mj3Xh3pyXfBEjYyHJ97nGCXu16wx5MzFHjfZmlG&TARGET=-SM-http%3a%2f%2fsa.www4.irs.gov%2ficce--core%2fload%2fgettrans%2fpages%2favailableTranscripts.xhtml

 

 

Edited April 25, 2018 by inqztve

[lierre 224]

We've used tax transcripts in the past that we ordered for my 10-year PR card application.

 

Ordered the last 4 years for my N-400 application and got them within 10 days.