joint tax?????

[Brian&Ivy 1]

I have no idea whether this is required or not..

We need pay more tax if my hubby and me join account... struggling...... any suggestion??

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

Oops!

Edited January 31, 2013 by CarlosAndSveta

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

I have no idea whether this is required or not..

We need pay more tax if my hubby and me join account... struggling...... any suggestion??

Read the post linked below and it might answer your question:

http://www.visajourn...used-about-tax/

[newacct 688]

I have no idea whether this is required or not..

We need pay more tax if my hubby and me join account... struggling...... any suggestion??

Why do you need to pay more? Usually you pay less with filing jointly than with filing separately.

[Brian&Ivy 1]

Why do you need to pay more? Usually you pay less with filing jointly than with filing separately.

it is complicated.. I wish I knew some tax rules. Since I am F1 student working with my CPT and in US less than 5 calendar years, I am a non resident. So I am eligible for waiving my SSN/Med care tax. Also, there is a 5000 US-China treaty. The first 5,000 is waived for tax. If I join my hubby's account. I will be treated as resident and pay more.. But I will ask our accountant to calculate both ways.. maybe the final results are the same....

Read the post linked below and it might answer your question:

http://www.visajourn...used-about-tax/

thank you!! same issure resident and non resident. only difference is I have a 1099 form not paying anything last year!! That is so annoying!!

[newacct 688]

it is complicated.. I wish I knew some tax rules. Since I am F1 student working with my CPT and in US less than 5 calendar years, I am a non resident. So I am eligible for waiving my SSN/Med care tax. Also, there is a 5000 US-China treaty. The first 5,000 is waived for tax. If I join my hubby's account. I will be treated as resident and pay more.. But I will ask our accountant to calculate both ways.. maybe the final results are the same....

thank you!! same issure resident and non resident. only difference is I have a 1099 form not paying anything last year!! That is so annoying!!

Actually, those sections of the China-U.S. tax treaty in particular apply to residents as well as nonresidents.

As for the FICA taxes, it's unclear whether you would owe them if you elect to be treated as a resident. On this page, it has a line that says "In addition, you may still be treated as a nonresident alien for the purpose of withholding Social Security and Medicare tax." Some people take that to mean that you would not owe them since you did not as a nonresident; but other people on the Internet think otherwise.

[Brian&Ivy 1]

Actually, those sections of the China-U.S. tax treaty in particular apply to residents as well as nonresidents.

As for the FICA taxes, it's unclear whether you would owe them if you elect to be treated as a resident. On this page, it has a line that says "In addition, you may still be treated as a nonresident alien for the purpose of withholding Social Security and Medicare tax." Some people take that to mean that you would not owe them since you did not as a nonresident; but other people on the Internet think otherwise.

really? However, I started to use my EAD card last december even my I20 still hasn't expired. I guess I should be treated by resident in any way. So If I am selected "non resident spouse treated as resident", I should pay resident tax in the whole year not the part?

Wish you best of luck!! Really great to see some accounting profesional here!!

[Darnell 8,478]

practice identifying taxable income on you, todayish, aye?

[newacct 688]

really? However, I started to use my EAD card last december even my I20 still hasn't expired. I guess I should be treated by resident in any way. So If I am selected "non resident spouse treated as resident", I should pay resident tax in the whole year not the part?

Well, you were F1 most of the year, so even if you possibly lost your F1 status in December, that would not be enough to make you a resident for the year, unless you actually got your green card by December 31. I am not sure what you mean by "resident tax". If you mean the FICA tax (Social Security and Medicare), it is my interpretation that you don't have to go back and pay it (plus the company is responsible for deducting it, not you; so how would you pay it anyway?), but you might want to get some more opinions about this.

[Brian&Ivy 1]

Well, you were F1 most of the year, so even if you possibly lost your F1 status in December, that would not be enough to make you a resident for the year, unless you actually got your green card by December 31. I am not sure what you mean by "resident tax". If you mean the FICA tax (Social Security and Medicare), it is my interpretation that you don't have to go back and pay it (plus the company is responsible for deducting it, not you; so how would you pay it anyway?), but you might want to get some more opinions about this.

Thanks for your suggestion! We will go to a professional accountant this saturday my hubby goes to every year. Let's see. Much appreciated your help!!!!!

[deborabr 16]

I also would like to confirm if I file my taxes jointly with my husband it is necessary to include a letter/statement explaining that I was non-resident for the tax year but decided to file as a resident for tax purposes?

[newacct 688]

I also would like to confirm if I file my taxes jointly with my husband it is necessary to include a letter/statement explaining that I was non-resident for the tax year but decided to file as a resident for tax purposes?

Yes, see here

[deborabr 16]

Yes, see here

Thank you! Do you know if there's any way to do that through turbo tax or do we have to submit all the taxes via mail?

[Darnell 8,478]

i say do a paper return , as it's yer first year.

first year for a lot of things, aye?

first year having that SSN or ITIN

first year filing with that status.

Turbo Tax can be used for prep, but print it out, no e-file available, as she won't be able to pass the 'prior year lookup' that turbotax does with the SSA.

[CarlosAndSveta 808]

it is complicated.. I wish I knew some tax rules. Since I am F1 student working with my CPT and in US less than 5 calendar years, I am a non resident. So I am eligible for waiving my SSN/Med care tax. Also, there is a 5000 US-China treaty. The first 5,000 is waived for tax. If I join my hubby's account. I will be treated as resident and pay more.. But I will ask our accountant to calculate both ways.. maybe the final results are the same....

Whether you are a non-resident alien or a resident alien you should be paying FICA and Medicare taxes. The U.S. - China tax treaty only covers income taxes and there isn't a "Totalization Agreement" between the U.S. and China on Social Security taxes.