I wanted to check on something with you guys...

I haven't been working at an official job since March 2006. I started to help my parents in their family business since then till June 2007. Since July I am working for a company which pays me $35k a year.

Here is my problem/question:

1. My parents business is in a tax mess, they haven't filed their taxes and they can't show me on payroll. However, I was being paid about $2500 a month in cash that I deposit in my bank. Can I show that as being self employed like a consultant and show that as income for the interview somehow? Do you even recommend bringing that income up?

2. I have only been working in my new official job since July 2007 and I will have a job letter stating that I started working for them in July 07 and at what pay... Will that be sufficient enough to show my income and bring my wife over here? Or will they ask what was I doing before and what kind of money I was making? Our interview should be late September or October in Delhi...you can make an estimate based upon my timeline.

Any clarifications would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.


PS I do have last 3 years of taxes showing more then $50k income each year....

You still have to pay taxes on it....I wouldnt show it as income unless I had the tax transcript to back it up.

file a return and pay the penalies.

Hmm...ok forget it for 2006. However I can still show 2007 right? Can I show that I was getting $2500/Month as a consultant from Jan 2007 onwards and then started to work for a company starting July 2007? What do you think? Anyways to show and do that...I can provide bank statements from Jan 07 onwards to proove that...

Thanks,
Jas

How would you "show it"?

If your past three years tax returns show sufficient income and you have a current employer letter and pay stubs, that should be sufficient. There is only one place to list your current income and occupation, so answer with the current information and the current salary annualized.

Oh ok. I was thinking I can show it by my bank statements from Jan 07...and also by having my accountant write up a letter of some kind...

PS Thanks pushbrk, you always seem to reply and help others

It would probably be easiest for you to invoice them for $2500/month as a consultant. (You'd have to pay your own Social security, but it's probably the cleanest way to do this.) Check with your accountant on the best way to set this up. Hopefully he can help minimize the penalties you owe on the back taxes.

Ok great. You think showing $35k a year starting July would be sufficent enough?

Yes, we deal with the visa process here. We're not tax collectors. How you deal with the "income" from your family's business is between you and the IRS. It's off topic here, since you don't have a problem qualifying as a sponsor.