janeth8711

Sorry JEff
The form at the moment is the 1040 and I gather he has the 2555 also to file.
The main query is the deductions. Because he doesn't live in US we Can't claim back anything. This is so confusing.
Also does he claim single? Or married filing single? It also asks for dependents (Ethan) our son has just been granted his US passport but has not got his ssn as yet.
Also have 2 step daughters but they are not citizens. Does he have to file for dependents at all ?

penguinbar

yup!

ian-mstm

If he was married at any point during the year, he must file as married. He can choose to file "married filing singly" (meaning on his own) or "married filing jointly" (meaning your income is included)... but he must file one or the other as "married".


Whether he has a SSN or not is irrelevant. He's a son!


Does he have to? No. Should he? Yes! Generally, the more children you can claim - the better the outcome!

Ian

jeffreyhy

OK, that sounds like the right start. What do you mean "claim back anything"? Do you mean get a tax refund? (There will be no refund from the US if there has been no payment to the US to be refunded.) Is he single? There is no "married filing single". As with immigration forms, it's important to not change the words, because changing the words changes the meaning. So get him a SSN.
File "for"? No. Claim them as dependents on his return? It may be helpful, if his income is enough that it exceeds the foreign earned income exclusion. If that is the case he will need to get ITINs for them.

Also, if his income exceeds the exclusion amount, it be helpful for you to get an ITIN so that he can file married-joint and use your exemption in addition to his own and the kids'. Filing married joint will also let him use a tax table that has lower rates, again of value if his income exceeds the exclusion. Regards, JEff

janeth8711

My husbands income does not exceed The exclusion amount so were ok there.
That's the main reason I asked about having to file with dependents. It seems easier without adding them all.

The main issue was not being able to answer almost all and having to put a big fat 0 in most of the columns. Is this usually the case for foreigners filing?..

We basically have income = no deductions and still have income amount.
I don't work either so he will have to file alone.

I'm sure this tax filing is so much easier than I'm making it out to be

jeffreyhy

Zeros are good! So it sounds like there will be a number on line 7 of the Form 1040, and the same number as a negative on line 21 brought over from the Form 2555.

Maybe there will be some interest income to report on line 8 of the Form 1040? Or some dividends on line 9? Unless he's like Mitt Romney, probably not enough to have to pay any tax to the US government.

Regards, JEff

janeth8711

That is a huge help, thanks

Maybe there will be some interest income to report on line 8 of the Form 1040? Or some dividends on line 9? Unless he's like Mitt Romney, probably not enough to have to pay any tax to the US government.

I shall pass on the info and let him fill in the blanks


Regards, JEff[/QUOTE]