Filing Tax Return 2011

[mayeeization 3]

Hi everyone! Just wanna ask what to do. My husband will be filing his income tax return this recent taxable year. We wanted to indicate his married status in the return. The person in IRS said he could file his tax with married status but file separately. but this is my situation. I am here in the Philippines and is still waiting for our Visa approval. I worked in another country as a teacher but when we decided to marry, i went back to the Philippines. Overseas Filipino Workers in the Philippines are exempted from tax. I looked into F2555 exclusion but it looks like it doesn't apply to me.

Anyone who has an experience like this? Than you so much and hoping for helpful replies.

[foofurrah 4]

Hi everyone! Just wanna ask what to do. My husband will be filing his income tax return this recent taxable year. We wanted to indicate his married status in the return. The person in IRS said he could file his tax with married status but file separately. but this is my situation. I am here in the Philippines and is still waiting for our Visa approval. I worked in another country as a teacher but when we decided to marry, i went back to the Philippines. Overseas Filipino Workers in the Philippines are exempted from tax. I looked into F2555 exclusion but it looks like it doesn't apply to me.

Anyone who has an experience like this? Than you so much and hoping for helpful replies.

If you do a search you'll get a fair number of posts on this topic. Here's one:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/293124-tax-file-and-i-130/

Just to clarify: You've never been to the United States and don't have a SSN or an ITIN?

Edited March 14, 2012 by foofurrah

[Leatherneck 693]

Did you earn more than $92,900 last year?

Purpose of Form

If you qualify, you can use Form 2555 to figure your foreign earned income exclusion and your housing exclusion or deduction. You cannot exclude or deduct

more than your foreign earned income for the year.

You may be able to use Form 2555-EZ, Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, if you did not have any

self-employment income for the year, your total foreign earned income did not exceed $92,900, you do not have any business or moving expenses, and you do not claim the housing exclusion or deduction. For more details, see Form 2555-EZ and its separate instructions.

[dan_ling 6]

Since you are married but still living in the Philippines you can,

1) if you have a SSN# or ITIN you can file Married Filing Jointly which you will get more of a refund or,

2) if you do not have either a SSN# or ITIN you can file Married Filing Seperately and once you are in the US and receive your SSN# file an amendment as Married Filing Jointly.

[BBCC 16]

Since you are married but still living in the Philippines you can,

1) if you have a SSN# or ITIN you can file Married Filing Jointly which you will get more of a refund or,

2) if you do not have either a SSN# or ITIN you can file Married Filing Seperately and once you are in the US and receive your SSN# file an amendment as Married Filing Jointly.

I can confirm all of the above. We don't have the SSN yet so we just filed Married Filing Seperate status and then amend with a 1040X when the SSN arrives, changing status to Married Filing Jointly with her new SSN. We will then add her income to "Wages & Tips", File a Form 2555 as it is all qualified as Foreign Earned Income exclusion, enjoy the extra deduction and get a bigger refund.

Hope that helps!