Should i put income as zero on I-864?

[Kossaga 0]

Hi folks,

 

I was not able to work the last three years due to many health problems. Last year, i only made a few thousands dollars driving Uber/Lyft but i filed taxes. I'm filling the I-864 with my parents as joint sponsors because they make more than enough to sponsor my spouse. My mom will also file I-864 and my dad will file I-854A. I'm getting better and planning on driving more with Uber/Lyft while actively looking for a more stable job. On the U.S immigrantion website, it states that if you do not meet the minimum requirements to overcome the poverty guidelines, you have to submit proof of income and proof of assets which i do not have at the moment. Since i already have joint sponsors, should i just put zero as income on from I-864 and include a letter explaning my situation so that they don't ask for proof of income or assets?

 

Thank you.

[pushbrk 13,259]

58 minutes ago, Kossaga said:

Hi folks,

 

I was not able to work the last three years due to many health problems. Last year, i only made a few thousands dollars driving Uber/Lyft but i filed taxes. I'm filling the I-864 with my parents as joint sponsors because they make more than enough to sponsor my spouse. My mom will also file I-864 and my dad will file I-854A. I'm getting better and planning on driving more with Uber/Lyft while actively looking for a more stable job. On the U.S immigrantion website, it states that if you do not meet the minimum requirements to overcome the poverty guidelines, you have to submit proof of income and proof of assets which i do not have at the moment. Since i already have joint sponsors, should i just put zero as income on from I-864 and include a letter explaning my situation so that they don't ask for proof of income or assets?

 

Thank you.

Yes, for the years your income was zero.  But you also did not file a tax return for at least two of those years. If your "revenue" minus "expenses" was under the minimum income requiring you to file a federal tax return for 2024, then it's zero for all three years.  In the separate area where you indicate your current occupation and your current income, you would indicate your occupation is "Uber/Lyft driver" and still enter zero income.  The reason you do that is that the number  a self employed person uses there is the "total income" line of the latest federal tax return.  If you WERE required to file, enter that number.  If you were not, enter zero.

 

You have the right idea to have one parent do the I-864 and the other the I-864a.  I recommend the parent with the most individual income do the I-864.

[Kossaga 0]

2 hours ago, pushbrk said:

Yes, for the years your income was zero.  But you also did not file a tax return for at least two of those years. If your "revenue" minus "expenses" was under the minimum income requiring you to file a federal tax return for 2024, then it's zero for all three years.  In the separate area where you indicate your current occupation and your current income, you would indicate your occupation is "Uber/Lyft driver" and still enter zero income.  The reason you do that is that the number  a self employed person uses there is the "total income" line of the latest federal tax return.  If you WERE required to file, enter that number.  If you were not, enter zero.

 

You have the right idea to have one parent do the I-864 and the other the I-864a.  I recommend the parent with the most individual income do the I-864.

Hi pushbrk,

 

Thank you for the detailed explaination. I have a couple questions if you don't mind.

 

1. I live in Massachusetts and the minimum requiring income to file tax is $8000 which i did not meet. But i've read that if you make more than $400 as a self employed person (i did make more than $400 in 2024), you must file tax return. Does that mean i was required to file and i have to enter the total income?

 

2. My parents filed jointly, do i still have the one with the most individual income do the I-864?

 

Thank you.

[pushbrk 13,259]

8 minutes ago, Kossaga said:

Hi pushbrk,

 

Thank you for the detailed explaination. I have a couple questions if you don't mind.

 

1. I live in Massachusetts and the minimum requiring income to file tax is $8000 which i did not meet. But i've read that if you make more than $400 as a self employed person (i did make more than $400 in 2024), you must file tax return. Does that mean i was required to file and i have to enter the total income?

 

2. My parents filed jointly, do i still have the one with the most individual income do the I-864?

 

Thank you.

For question 2, the answer is yes.

Question 1.  Massachusetts requirements for a State Tax return are irrelevant in this context.  You file or don't file a Federal Tax return based on Federal Requirements.  See below.  But be aware for the self employed, "income" is revenue minus business expenses.  So, as a ride share driver, you need to do that calculation before you know if you are required to file or not.

 

What is the threshold for filing a US tax return?

 

 

If you were under 65 at the end of 2024

If your filing status is:	File a tax return if your gross income is:
Single	$14,600 or more
Head of household	$21,900 or more
Married filing jointly	$29,200 or more (both spouses under 65) $30,750 or more (one spouse under 65)
Married filing separately	$5 or more

[Kossaga 0]

12 minutes ago, pushbrk said:

For question 2, the answer is yes.

Question 1.  Massachusetts requirements for a State Tax return are irrelevant in this context.  You file or don't file a Federal Tax return based on Federal Requirements.  See below.  But be aware for the self employed, "income" is revenue minus business expenses.  So, as a ride share driver, you need to do that calculation before you know if you are required to file or not.

 

What is the threshold for filing a US tax return?

 

 

If you were under 65 at the end of 2024

If your filing status is:	File a tax return if your gross income is:
Single	$14,600 or more
Head of household	$21,900 or more
Married filing jointly	$29,200 or more (both spouses under 65) $30,750 or more (one spouse under 65)
Married filing separately	$5 or more

Hi pushbrk,

 

I did the calculation and the number came out to be under $14,600. But i'm still not sure if i was required to file because of the $400 threshold for self-employment. I made more than $400 but less than the Federal requirements. Could you please clarify this? Thank you so much.

[pushbrk 13,259]

2 minutes ago, Kossaga said:

Hi pushbrk,

 

I did the calculation and the number came out to be under $14,600. But i'm still not sure if i was required to file because of the $400 threshold for self-employment. I made more than $400 but less than the Federal requirements. Could you please clarify this? Thank you so much.

I thought I was very clear the Massachusetts requirements are irrelevant in this context.  US Immigration only cares about federal tax returns.  What you do for the State of Massachusetts is irrelevant in this discussion.

[S2N 24]

@pushbrk is normally spot on I-864, but there’s a detail here he glanced over — you have self-employment income. The $400 is not just a state requirement like you think it is.

If your self-employment income was $400 or more there is a federal filing requirement as you owe self-employment tax even if you do not owe income tax. You most likely will not owe income tax, since your taxable income will be zero; but you’ll most likely owe 15.3% self-employment tax on the net income listed on schedule C. 
 

Self-employment tax is calculated on Schedule SE before the standard deduction and any adjustments is are applied to get taxable income on the face of the 1040.

 

Just use FreeTaxUSA and file your taxes.
 

IRS page for reference: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/self-employed-individuals-tax-center#:~:text=You have to file an,and 1040-SR instructions PDF.

Edited March 1 by S2N

[S2N 24]

Also, OP, your story here is hard to follow. You said you filed your taxes but then are asking if you have to file your taxes if you’re above MA but below federal?

 

The short answer is yes, you have both a federal and state filing requirement any year you made more than $400 self-employed, but also the State Department doesn’t care to see your MA return and the state return won’t have an immigration impact.

 

If you’ve filed a federal return you put in the total income amount from your 1040 and upload the transcript.

Edited March 1 by S2N