Tax return - file single or married while living abroad with $0 income

[RM1996 4]

 

 

Hi everyone, 

 

Just a quick question regarding tax for the I-864 form & being married. 

 

My partner has been living abroad for the last 4 years and filed a tax return in 2018, she has since been at uni which was completed last year. She did her taxes for 2019 & 2022 declaring $0 being made. 

 

She founded 2 business last year with a friend and now has stepped back from those businesses as they generated $0 income. She did receive a stimulus check since being overseas during COVID.

 

Questions: 

 

1. Does she still need to file her tax return, even though she earned $0 and receiving the stimulus check 
2. Should we file as jointly married or single? 

 

I heard filing as a single does not matter and would love some clarification as we are both still residing in Australia and don’t want to complicate things. 

 

Thanks  

[Timona 4,208]

From my small IRS knowledge, she qualifies to not file

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from NVC forum to Tax & Finances During US Immigration ***

 

[Wuozopo 4,293]

22 hours ago, RM1996 said:

 

 

Hi everyone, 

 

Just a quick question regarding tax for the I-864 form & being married. 

My partner has been living abroad for the last 4 years and filed a tax return in 2018, she has since been at uni which was completed last year. She did her taxes for 2019 & 2022 declaring $0 being made. 

She founded 2 business last year with a friend and now has stepped back from those businesses as they generated $0 income. She did receive a stimulus check since being overseas during COVID.

 

Questions: 

1. Does she still need to file her tax return, even though she earned $0 and receiving the stimulus check 
2. Should we file as jointly married or single? I heard filing as a single does not matter and would love some clarification as we are both still residing in Australia and don’t want to complicate things. 

Filing single for 2021 is not an option because she was married in 2021. She is no longer single. Options are:

• Married filing Separately 
• Married Filing Jointly

According to the IRS, she must file if she earned at least $5. If she has any savings or investments that pay interest/dividends, those count toward the $5. if she truly had zero income, then she does not have to file. 
 

There is no reason for her to file Jointly with you.
 

There were 3 covid stimulus payments. The last on was $1400 in early 2021. If she did not get that one, she can collect it by filing a 2021 tax return.

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by Wuozopo