Tax filing status
Dec 13th 2002, 1:06 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Tax filing status
It just occurred to me that I don't know how I am going to file my
income tax for tax year 2002. Elena and I were married on October 2
and she left for Russia on October 7, 2002. She obviously has no SS#.
Can I claim her as a dependent?...should I?...how would I? She
refuses to take money for living expenses (WAY too proud) so I really
haven't *supported* her, except while she lived with me before and
after marriage. Her income for the year in Russia will be on the
order of $600.00 American. This is a little more complicated than the
folks at H&R Block can manage. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your
input...
Richard III
income tax for tax year 2002. Elena and I were married on October 2
and she left for Russia on October 7, 2002. She obviously has no SS#.
Can I claim her as a dependent?...should I?...how would I? She
refuses to take money for living expenses (WAY too proud) so I really
haven't *supported* her, except while she lived with me before and
after marriage. Her income for the year in Russia will be on the
order of $600.00 American. This is a little more complicated than the
folks at H&R Block can manage. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for your
input...
Richard III
Dec 13th 2002, 1:30 am
#2
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 160
It's probably in your best interest to file a joint tax return for 2002. You'll need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) for your wife from the IRS.
John
John
Dec 13th 2002, 3:04 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tax filing status
Thanks John - they likely mention this in the thick income tax manual
available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
- richard iii
On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 02:30:33 +0000, John McHugh
wrote:
>It's probably in your best interest to file a joint tax return for 2002.
>You'll need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
>(ITIN) for your wife from the IRS.
>John
>--
>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
- richard iii
On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 02:30:33 +0000, John McHugh
wrote:
>It's probably in your best interest to file a joint tax return for 2002.
>You'll need to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number
>(ITIN) for your wife from the IRS.
>John
>--
>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
Dec 13th 2002, 10:25 am
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 160
Re: Tax filing status
[QUOTE][SIZE=1]Originally posted by Richard III
Thanks John - they likely mention this in the thick income tax manual
available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
- richard iii
Yes. It is covered in the 1040 booklet. One thing I didn't mention is that ITIN's are for people who are not eligible for a SS#. This is a bit of a gray area. I was in the same position a year ago, but I had started my wife's adjustment of status immediately. So, she was, strictly speaking, eligible for a SS#...she was just waiting to get first the EAD and then the SS card. It was June or July before I could file my taxes!
In years past, you could simply write "in process" in the SS# boxes on the 1040 form and it would pass through (my brother, who offers tax filing assistance as a second job during each Spring, suggested I do this, since it had worked for others in the past), but the IRS told me this would not work any longer...the form would be spit out automatically with no numbers in the upper boxes. I elected not to test whether this was true, becasue I had a substantial refund coming.
You may want to get some confirmation that the ITIN approach will work for you, but if so, it seems like the easiest road to travel.
John
Thanks John - they likely mention this in the thick income tax manual
available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
- richard iii
Yes. It is covered in the 1040 booklet. One thing I didn't mention is that ITIN's are for people who are not eligible for a SS#. This is a bit of a gray area. I was in the same position a year ago, but I had started my wife's adjustment of status immediately. So, she was, strictly speaking, eligible for a SS#...she was just waiting to get first the EAD and then the SS card. It was June or July before I could file my taxes!
In years past, you could simply write "in process" in the SS# boxes on the 1040 form and it would pass through (my brother, who offers tax filing assistance as a second job during each Spring, suggested I do this, since it had worked for others in the past), but the IRS told me this would not work any longer...the form would be spit out automatically with no numbers in the upper boxes. I elected not to test whether this was true, becasue I had a substantial refund coming.
You may want to get some confirmation that the ITIN approach will work for you, but if so, it seems like the easiest road to travel.
John
Dec 14th 2002, 2:34 am
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Tax filing status
John -
Useful insights - I, like you, don't see any percentage in tempting
the IRS to become interested in me. Tell me the rules, and I'll play
by them, I always say...thanks again, there is no substitute for
experience.
Richard III
On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:25:52 +0000, John McHugh
wrote:
>Originally posted by Richard III
>> Thanks John - they likely mention this in the thick income tax manual
>> available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
>> - richard iii
>> Yes. It is covered in the 1040 booklet. One thing I didn't mention
>> is that ITIN's are for people who are not eligible for a SS#. This is
>> a bit of a gray area. I was in the same position a year ago, but I
>> had started my wife's adjustment of status immediately. So, she was,
>> strictly speaking, eligible for a SS#...she was just waiting to get
>> first the EAD and then the SS card. It was June or July before I
>> could file my taxes!
>> In years past, you could simply write "in process" in the SS# boxes on
>> the 1040 form and it would pass through (my brother, who offers tax
>> filing assistance as a second job during each Spring, suggested I do
>> this, since it had worked for others in the past), but the IRS told me
>> this would not work any longer...the form would be spit out
>> automatically with no numbers in the upper boxes. I elected not to
>> test whether this was true, becasue I had a substantial refund coming.
>> You may want to get some confirmation that the ITIN approach will work
>> for you, but if so, it seems like the easiest road to travel.
>> John
>--
>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
Useful insights - I, like you, don't see any percentage in tempting
the IRS to become interested in me. Tell me the rules, and I'll play
by them, I always say...thanks again, there is no substitute for
experience.
Richard III
On Fri, 13 Dec 2002 11:25:52 +0000, John McHugh
wrote:
>Originally posted by Richard III
>> Thanks John - they likely mention this in the thick income tax manual
>> available at the post office?...publication something or another, yes?
>> - richard iii
>> Yes. It is covered in the 1040 booklet. One thing I didn't mention
>> is that ITIN's are for people who are not eligible for a SS#. This is
>> a bit of a gray area. I was in the same position a year ago, but I
>> had started my wife's adjustment of status immediately. So, she was,
>> strictly speaking, eligible for a SS#...she was just waiting to get
>> first the EAD and then the SS card. It was June or July before I
>> could file my taxes!
>> In years past, you could simply write "in process" in the SS# boxes on
>> the 1040 form and it would pass through (my brother, who offers tax
>> filing assistance as a second job during each Spring, suggested I do
>> this, since it had worked for others in the past), but the IRS told me
>> this would not work any longer...the form would be spit out
>> automatically with no numbers in the upper boxes. I elected not to
>> test whether this was true, becasue I had a substantial refund coming.
>> You may want to get some confirmation that the ITIN approach will work
>> for you, but if so, it seems like the easiest road to travel.
>> John
>--
>Posted via http://britishexpats.com
