Confusion on tax return transcript for I-864

[Sgholston 2]

Hi, 

 

can someone tell me what part of the tax transcript to treat as income?  On my husbands 2020 transcript on the front page it says income

wage, salaries, tips etc: $

 

Then under tax and credits it says;

taxable income per computer: $

the amounts differ by $20,000! 

 

which one will the NVC count as his income? 

a). wage, salaries, tips etc

b). taxable income per computer ($10k more than wage, salaries, tips etc) 

 

I understand I need to upload the entire tax return document (1040), I’m just wondering which figure they will use, as this will determine if we need a joint sponsor… 

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

 

 

[JeanneAdil 6,510]

Look at the statement for question 20

"My current annual income (total all lines from Part 6 Items # 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19

 

Then 23 b asks for Adjusted gross income for last 3 years 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf

those are instructions for the form

[randy32 165]

19 minutes ago, Sgholston said:

Hi, 

 

can someone tell me what part of the tax transcript to treat as income?  On my husbands 2020 transcript on the front page it says income

wage, salaries, tips etc: $

 

Then under tax and credits it says;

taxable income per computer: $

the amounts differ by $20,000! 

 

which one will the NVC count as his income? 

a). wage, salaries, tips etc

b). taxable income per computer ($10k more than wage, salaries, tips etc) 

 

I understand I need to upload the entire tax return document (1040), I’m just wondering which figure they will use, as this will determine if we need a joint sponsor… 

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

 

 

As long as his income high enough, I would not worry about which number they use. The tax return is easier for me to understand than the transcript.

[randy32 165]

7 minutes ago, JeanneAdil said:

Look at the statement for question 20

"My current annual income (total all lines from Part 6 Items # 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19

 

Then 23 b asks for Adjusted gross income for last 3 years 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf

those are instructions for the form

Question 20 is on page 5, go to page 4, add the amounts # 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19 (all this is in Part 6). the total is the answer for Question 20

 

Adjusted gross income can be found on both the transcript and tax return

[Sgholston 2]

All I have is the tax return transcript…it’s a print out so it doesn’t have question numbers… 

[Sgholston 2]

Ok so adjusted income in the return transcript is different too. 
 

is there a number I can call. The total income is only $17k. The wages income is $24k the total positive income per computer is $43k! 

 

all the numbers are so different but we need to know if we need to get a joint sponsor as you can see the above differs greatly. 
 

 

Just now, Sgholston said:

Ok so adjusted income in the return transcript is different too. 
 

is there a number I can call. The total income is only $17k. The wages income is $24k the total positive income per computer is $43k! 

 

all the numbers are so different but we need to know if we need to get a joint sponsor as you can see the above differs greatly. 
 

 

 

14 minutes ago, randy32 said:

Question 20 is on page 5, go to page 4, add the amounts # 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19 (all this is in Part 6). the total is the answer for Question 20

 

Adjusted gross income can be found on both the transcript and tax return

 

[arken 4,197]

4 minutes ago, Sgholston said:

Ok so adjusted income in the return transcript is different too. 
 

is there a number I can call. The total income is only $17k. The wages income is $24k the total positive income per computer is $43k! 

 

all the numbers are so different but we need to know if we need to get a joint sponsor as you can see the above differs greatly. 

 

Forget about what's there in 2020 tax return. What is your husband's current annual income? That will determine whether you need joint sponsor or not.

Edited November 3, 2021 by arken

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, Sgholston said:

can someone tell me what part of the tax transcript to treat as income?  

The line NVC looks at on a tax return or transcript for your income is Line 7 TOTAL INCOME.  It is NOT adjusted gross income. It is NOT taxable income. The instructions for form I-864 Affidavit of Support give you the answer on page 9, second paragraph.

 

“For purposes of this affidavit, the line for Total Income on IRS Forms 1040 and 1040A will be considered when determining income. For persons filing IRS Form 1040 EZ, the line for adjusted gross income will be considered.”

Please note that tax form 1040EZ has not been in use by the IRS since 2017 so your husband would not have used it in 2020.

 

But if he is currently making more than the 2020 tax return shows, he can provide an employer letter or pay slips showing his current salary. That’s what goes on form I-864 in section 6 where it says 

“My current individual annual income is $____________ “

Don’t put an amount higher than the Total Income line on the tax transcript unless you have something to prove that you make more right now. 

[pushbrk 12,892]

9 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

Look at the statement for question 20

"My current annual income (total all lines from Part 6 Items # 7, 10, 13, 16 and 19

 

Then 23 b asks for Adjusted gross income for last 3 years 

 

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-864instr.pdf

those are instructions for the form

1.  There is no question about adjusted gross income anywhere on any form.

2.  The number used from the Tax Return Transcript is "TOTAL INCOME"

 

              Note that sometimes Adjusted Gross and Total Income are the same number, but "TOTAL" is what is asked for in the form instructions.  Adjusted gross income is only used when the person files a 1040 EZ instead of the full 1040 form.

 

3.  Current income does NOT come from a tax return for an employed person.  It would come from a pay stub or employer letter.  Only the self employed get their current income number from a tax return.

[Amar K 1]

10 hours ago, Sgholston said:

Hi, 

 

can someone tell me what part of the tax transcript to treat as income?  On my husbands 2020 transcript on the front page it says income

wage, salaries, tips etc: $

 

Then under tax and credits it says;

taxable income per computer: $

the amounts differ by $20,000! 

 

which one will the NVC count as his income? 

a). wage, salaries, tips etc

b). taxable income per computer ($10k more than wage, salaries, tips etc) 

 

I understand I need to upload the entire tax return document (1040), I’m just wondering which figure they will use, as this will determine if we need a joint sponsor… 

 

Thanks in advance! 

 

 

 

You will have to submit the tax return transcript for year 2020.

[Sgholston 2]

On 11/3/2021 at 9:08 AM, arken said:

Forget about what's there in 2020 tax return. What is your husband's current annual income? That will determine whether you need joint sponsor or not.

That’s hard to say because of the pandemic he worked a few extra jobs…. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s the per computer line or the wages etc line. 

[Sgholston 2]

21 hours ago, pushbrk said:

1.  There is no question about adjusted gross income anywhere on any form.

2.  The number used from the Tax Return Transcript is "TOTAL INCOME"

 

              Note that sometimes Adjusted Gross and Total Income are the same number, but "TOTAL" is what is asked for in the form instructions.  Adjusted gross income is only used when the person files a 1040 EZ instead of the full 1040 form.

 

3.  Current income does NOT come from a tax return for an employed person.  It would come from a pay stub or employer letter.  Only the self employed get their current income number from a tax return.

Thank you that makes more sense. So I should use the per computer amount. 

[arken 4,197]

3 minutes ago, Sgholston said:

That’s hard to say because of the pandemic he worked a few extra jobs…. That’s why I’m wondering if it’s the per computer line or the wages etc line. 

Assuming he is not self employed...

 

Let's say he earned 200K in 2020 and is shown in tax return transcript. If his current annual income is 10K at present, he will need a joint sponsor. That's what i am saying. 
 

You can use the TOTAL income from the transcript where it asks for 2020 but for his current income, you have to use what he is currently earning and that's what NVC will look at. What's his current income? We can tell you whether a joint sponsor is needed or not.

[Sgholston 2]

16 minutes ago, arken said:

Assuming he is not self employed...

 

Let's say he earned 200K in 2020 and is shown in tax return transcript. If his current annual income is 10K at present, he will need a joint sponsor. That's what i am saying. 
 

You can use the TOTAL income from the transcript where it asks for 2020 but for his current income, you have to use what he is currently earning and that's what NVC will look at. What's his current income? We can tell you whether a joint sponsor is needed or not.

Thank you so much I understand now I really appreciate you breaking it down. 

[pushbrk 12,892]

1 hour ago, Sgholston said:

Thank you that makes more sense. So I should use the per computer amount. 

I don't know what you mean by the computer amount.  In the tax section of the form for 2020 enter the amount from the transcript called "Total Income".

 

Now, since you seem to be confused about the current income part.  Is he employed?  If he is employed, not "self employed" meaning he works for himself, not other companies, then you're going to use his pay stub or pay stubs to determine his current income.  For example, if his gross pay per week is 1,000 then his annual income is 1000 X 52 weeks = 52000.  Then, you include the most recent pay stub from each job as documentation of his current income.