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ftalm

Filing taxes

By ftalm in General Immigration-Related Discussion

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ftalm Apprentice

ftalm   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Portugal
 Timeline
Posted

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this topic, but here we go anyway ...

I just got my green card last week and have been looking into the tax filing thing with my husband.

We were married in August and I earned income up until June in Portugal ... I haven't worked yet in the US - we adjusted from VWP.

So my main questions are:

Since we want to file jointly, do I have to report my portuguese income from the first six months of the year, even though I wasn't a resident or even living in the US? And will I pay double tax on it, considering I'll be paying tax on that income in Portugal once I file there too?

I read that I'm in some sort of special category because I was only a resident for part of the year? I've been reading on it, but I am just finding it all very confusing.

Are there any special forms we need to be aware of?

And finally, is it just easier to hire someone to do this all for us? We thought about going somewhere like HR Block or something, but I don't know how experienced they are as far as these immigration questions are concerned.

Any help you can give me would be great! :)

AOS from VWP

08/29/2013 - AOS Package Sent (I-130 and I-485)

09/02/2013 - AOS Package delivered, according to USPS tracking

09/08/2013 - USCIS Acceptance Confirmation E-mail

09/09/2013 - USPS Return Receipt received - Signed by USCIS Chicago Lockbox

09/09/2013 - Both I-130 and I-485 checks cashed

09/11/2013 - NOAs (I-797C) received in the mail

09/16/2013 - Biometrics Appointment Notice received in the mail (10/02/2013)

10/02/2013 - Biometrics Done

10/09/2013 - Status Change: Testing and Interview

10/31/2013 - Status Update: Interview Notice Sent for Interview on 12/05/2013

11/01/2013 - Interview Notice received in the mail: Interview on 12/05/2013

12/05/2013 - Interview @ Portland Office - Approved on the spot!

12/05/2013 - Card production notice

12/10/2013 - USPS tracking number available. Card to be delivered by Dec 13.

12/14/2013 - Green Card and Welcome Letter received

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NickD Grand Master

NickD   202

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Colombia
 Timeline
Posted

Here we have that W-2, your US employer sends that to the IRS to report you income and the IRS has that in their greedy little pocket. Wife was in the same situation as you, but working in Venezuela, no such W-2 was sent to the US IRS, but sure was sent to her government where she had to pay taxes to them.

You don't have to claim this, not even provisions for doing this on the 1040. They want your US IRS W-2 on your US tax returns. She also had some US dollars, couldn't even put that in the bank due to the APA until she got an SS# so we put that money under the mattress. When she could finally put it in the bank that paid interest far lower than the inflation rate. Bank sent a 1099 to the IRS so we had to pay taxes on that interest. Even though that money was worth less than the year before.

If we had any brains at all, should have left that money under the mattress.

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ftalm Apprentice

ftalm   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Portugal
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

So you're telling me I don't have to report my portuguese income from January until June this year? It's just I keep seeing stuff about 'reporting your worldwide income' ...

AOS from VWP

08/29/2013 - AOS Package Sent (I-130 and I-485)

09/02/2013 - AOS Package delivered, according to USPS tracking

09/08/2013 - USCIS Acceptance Confirmation E-mail

09/09/2013 - USPS Return Receipt received - Signed by USCIS Chicago Lockbox

09/09/2013 - Both I-130 and I-485 checks cashed

09/11/2013 - NOAs (I-797C) received in the mail

09/16/2013 - Biometrics Appointment Notice received in the mail (10/02/2013)

10/02/2013 - Biometrics Done

10/09/2013 - Status Change: Testing and Interview

10/31/2013 - Status Update: Interview Notice Sent for Interview on 12/05/2013

11/01/2013 - Interview Notice received in the mail: Interview on 12/05/2013

12/05/2013 - Interview @ Portland Office - Approved on the spot!

12/05/2013 - Card production notice

12/10/2013 - USPS tracking number available. Card to be delivered by Dec 13.

12/14/2013 - Green Card and Welcome Letter received

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CarlosAndSveta Proficient

CarlosAndSveta   808

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I am not sure if this is the right place to post this topic, but here we go anyway ...

I just got my green card last week and have been looking into the tax filing thing with my husband.

We were married in August and I earned income up until June in Portugal ... I haven't worked yet in the US - we adjusted from VWP.

So my main questions are:

Since we want to file jointly, do I have to report my portuguese income from the first six months of the year, even though I wasn't a resident or even living in the US? And will I pay double tax on it, considering I'll be paying tax on that income in Portugal once I file there too?

I read that I'm in some sort of special category because I was only a resident for part of the year? I've been reading on it, but I am just finding it all very confusing.

Are there any special forms we need to be aware of?

And finally, is it just easier to hire someone to do this all for us? We thought about going somewhere like HR Block or something, but I don't know how experienced they are as far as these immigration questions are concerned.

Any help you can give me would be great! smile.png

You should read IRS Publication 519 - U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens. Here is the link: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

You can file jointly but you and your should make the election to treat as a Resident Alien for tax purposes for all of 2013. See page 8 of the Publication 519. In order to file jointly with your husband you must include your worldwide income on the joint return but your Portugese income will probably not be taxed since you can probably exclude it under the Foreign Income Exclusion. See Page 14 of Publication 519.

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ftalm Apprentice

ftalm   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Portugal
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Oh that's perfect! I just glanced over it, but I'll give it a proper read tonight. Thanks!

AOS from VWP

08/29/2013 - AOS Package Sent (I-130 and I-485)

09/02/2013 - AOS Package delivered, according to USPS tracking

09/08/2013 - USCIS Acceptance Confirmation E-mail

09/09/2013 - USPS Return Receipt received - Signed by USCIS Chicago Lockbox

09/09/2013 - Both I-130 and I-485 checks cashed

09/11/2013 - NOAs (I-797C) received in the mail

09/16/2013 - Biometrics Appointment Notice received in the mail (10/02/2013)

10/02/2013 - Biometrics Done

10/09/2013 - Status Change: Testing and Interview

10/31/2013 - Status Update: Interview Notice Sent for Interview on 12/05/2013

11/01/2013 - Interview Notice received in the mail: Interview on 12/05/2013

12/05/2013 - Interview @ Portland Office - Approved on the spot!

12/05/2013 - Card production notice

12/10/2013 - USPS tracking number available. Card to be delivered by Dec 13.

12/14/2013 - Green Card and Welcome Letter received

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rin and john Proficient

rin and john   71

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Thailand
 Timeline
Posted

Whilst your reading:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/354422-2011-turbotax-w-foreign-income-to-report/

Nich-Nick has several reports on filing earned income exemption over the past several years. Send them a PM and they may be able to provide more help.

K-3

11/15/2006 - NOA1 Receipt for 129F

02/12/2007 - I-130 and I-129F approved!

04/17/2007 - Interview - visa approved!

04/18/2007 - POE LAX - Finally in the USA!!!

04/19/2007 - WE ARE FINALLY HOME!!!

09/20/2007 - Sent Packet 3 for K-4 Visas (follow to join for children)

10/02/2007 - K-4 Interviews - approved

10/12/2007 - Everyone back to USA!

AOS

06/20/2008 - Mailed I-485, I-765 (plus I-130 for children)

06/27/2008 - NOA1 for I-485, I-765, and I-130s

07/16/2008 - Biometrics appointment

08/28/2008 - EAD cards received

11/20/2008 - AOS Interviews - approved

Citizenship

08/22/2011 - Mailed N-400

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ftalm Apprentice

ftalm   0

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Portugal
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Whilst your reading:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/354422-2011-turbotax-w-foreign-income-to-report/

Nich-Nick has several reports on filing earned income exemption over the past several years. Send them a PM and they may be able to provide more help.

That topic is definitely very helpful! Thanks a lot :)

AOS from VWP

08/29/2013 - AOS Package Sent (I-130 and I-485)

09/02/2013 - AOS Package delivered, according to USPS tracking

09/08/2013 - USCIS Acceptance Confirmation E-mail

09/09/2013 - USPS Return Receipt received - Signed by USCIS Chicago Lockbox

09/09/2013 - Both I-130 and I-485 checks cashed

09/11/2013 - NOAs (I-797C) received in the mail

09/16/2013 - Biometrics Appointment Notice received in the mail (10/02/2013)

10/02/2013 - Biometrics Done

10/09/2013 - Status Change: Testing and Interview

10/31/2013 - Status Update: Interview Notice Sent for Interview on 12/05/2013

11/01/2013 - Interview Notice received in the mail: Interview on 12/05/2013

12/05/2013 - Interview @ Portland Office - Approved on the spot!

12/05/2013 - Card production notice

12/10/2013 - USPS tracking number available. Card to be delivered by Dec 13.

12/14/2013 - Green Card and Welcome Letter received

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