Tax Return 2020

[syed88 14]

Hello,

I am waiting for my spouse interview and I will have to provide new I864 because  of the tax year,  I am not sure what to write on Federal TAX Return for 2020 income  because I received unemploymnet benefit due to Covid-19. My total income on my Tax return is my Wage+Unemploymnet . Is this Total income need to mention on I864 or just my Wage(W2) income ?

If somebody know kinldy please let me know. 

 

 

[samuelam 19]

31 minutes ago, syed88 said:

Hello,

I am waiting for my spouse interview and I will have to provide new I864 because  of the tax year,  I am not sure what to write on Federal TAX Return for 2020 income  because I received unemploymnet benefit due to Covid-19. My total income on my Tax return is my Wage+Unemploymnet . Is this Total income need to mention on I864 or just my Wage(W2) income ?

If somebody know kinldy please let me know. 

 

 

Answer

Good news: Although some sources of money related to unemployment cannot be counted toward income for purposes of Form I-864 (such as food stamps, SSI, Medicaid, and TANF), unemployment benefits are in a different category. They are basically insurance payments, which you are allowed to collect upon based on your employer having paid into a federal/state unemployment system earlier.

[SteveInBostonI130 3,447]

30 minutes ago, syed88 said:

Hello,

I am waiting for my spouse interview and I will have to provide new I864 because  of the tax year,  I am not sure what to write on Federal TAX Return for 2020 income  because I received unemploymnet benefit due to Covid-19. My total income on my Tax return is my Wage+Unemploymnet . Is this Total income need to mention on I864 or just my Wage(W2) income ?

If somebody know kinldy please let me know. 

 

 

Yes.  Wage+Unemployment.

 

[pushbrk 12,883]

1 hour ago, SteveInBostonI130 said:

 

Yes.  Wage+Unemployment.

 

While that is correct, the number there is for the tax section, not the current income section.  If you have returned to employment, then your current income is the gross amount from a full pay period, times the number of pay periods in a full year.  (Every two weeks is 26 pay periods, etc.)  If you have not returned to employment, your current income is your gross unemployment for a week X 52, but then you will be wise to have a joint sponsor who qualifies with employment income and/or liquid assets.

[syed88 14]

18 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

While that is correct, the number there is for the tax section, not the current income section.  If you have returned to employment, then your current income is the gross amount from a full pay period, times the number of pay periods in a full year.  (Every two weeks is 26 pay periods, etc.)  If you have not returned to employment, your current income is your gross unemployment for a week X 52, but then you will be wise to have a joint sponsor who qualifies with employment income and/or liquid assets.

Thank you! I’m back to work already. I got unemployment in only 2020 due to a COVID. 

[Ryan H 3,812]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to Tax & Finances During US Immigration forum.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

13 hours ago, syed88 said:

Thank you! I’m back to work already. I got unemployment in only 2020 due to a COVID. 

Then calculate what your current wage is out to what you will earn for a one year period as explained above. Your 2020 tax return does not prove that income, so get an employer letter stating your current income or provide six months of pay stubs. That is explained in the form instructions as optional proofs. 
 

If using only a tax return as proof, immigration looks at the figure on Line 9 of your 2020 Form 1040. If you make more now then prove it with the documentation stated.

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

15 hours ago, syed88 said:

Thank you! I’m back to work already. I got unemployment in only 2020 due to a COVID. 

Then the unemployment pay is irrelevant to current annual income.  Use the "current pay period gross income x number of pay periods per year" method to determine current annual income.

[syed88 14]

24 minutes ago, Lucky Cat said:

Then the unemployment pay is irrelevant to current annual income.  Use the "current pay period gross income x number of pay periods per year" method to determine current annual income.

Yes, I just wanted to make sure that on Tax section of I864 information for previous year income 2020 is wage+unemployment 

[Crazy Cat 41,850]

2 minutes ago, syed88 said:

Yes, I just wanted to make sure that on Tax section of I864 information for previous year income 2020 is wage+unemployment 

The tax number comes directly from what is indicated on the tax return itself....no guessing or calculating needed.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

26 minutes ago, syed88 said:

Yes, I just wanted to make sure that on Tax section of I864 information for previous year income 2020 is wage+unemployment 

Get the info for the three years tax section from the Total Income line on the Form 1040 of each tax return. 

2020: Line 9 (Your unemployment is already in this number)

2019: Line 7b

2018: Line 6

[pushbrk 12,883]

10 hours ago, Wuozopo said:

Then calculate what your current wage is out to what you will earn for a one year period as explained above. Your 2020 tax return does not prove that income, so get an employer letter stating your current income or provide six months of pay stubs. That is explained in the form instructions as optional proofs. 
 

If using only a tax return as proof, immigration looks at the figure on Line 9 of your 2020 Form 1040. If you make more now then prove it with the documentation stated.

Six months of pay stubs is an instruction from a couple decades ago.  If the pay stub shows YTD earnings, one is enough.  One such pay stub is better than any employer letter.  No need for both.

[Wuozopo 4,293]

37 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

Six months of pay stubs is an instruction from a couple decades ago.  If the pay stub shows YTD earnings, one is enough.  One such pay stub is better than any employer letter.  No need for both.

Yes I agree a YTD is fine but the instructions say 6 months worth of pay. 

 

[pushbrk 12,883]

3 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

Yes I agree a YTD is fine but the instructions say 6 months worth of pay. 

 

Yes, USCIS simply hasn't updated that part of the instructions in a couple decades.  It is well and long established that one proper pay stub is enough, even without an employer letter.