Taxes, living abroad, haven't filed due to low income

[millefleur 5,034]

Hello again everyone,

I've been checking the forums about the situation with sponsoring.

I'm planning to have a joint-sponsor (my mother) who will provide whatever we need to cover all expenses. She can provide everything we need so that's not a big deal. I'm just concerned about my tax returns.

The thing is, I haven't filed taxes since 2010 because I've lived in and out of the US since then. I lived off of my savings mostly and a few meager earnings at part time gigs. Some years I was unemployed, others I was a student, and I was an au pair for one year. In the last two years I've had a work visa in Russia as an English teacher but I've earned less than $10,000 because I work part time and basically have no regular schedule at all.

Another thing is that Russia is really disorganized and weird about business, money and taxes. I have a contract but it's extremely generic, only states my hourly rate ($8-$9 dollars an hour) and that's it. I don't get pay stubs, I get paid in cash. My schedule is really erratic because my students cancel all the time, sometimes I cancel. I take off weeks at a time, etc. This is all pretty normal for Russia but I'm aware it's very odd for Americans.

So, will it be OK in my case just to write a personal letter that I haven't filed due to low income/unemployment or should my employer write something too?

Thanks for all the help.

[Becca and Doody 18]

Yes you will need to write a letter. You shouldn't need anything from your employer. Just explain why you were not required to file taxes.

My then fiance (now husband) had his interview in Saudi, but assuming it's the same for you, I'll tell you what worked for us.

My situation is exactly like yours, while I was in the US I had not had to file taxes because I was a student and not earning an income. I was living abroad in Qatar where I was earning enough money to be over the taxable amount, however since it is foreign earned income it did not reach an amount that is taxable.

I had a co-sponsor (my mother) and had all her tax info provided. I just had my I-134 but didn't submit anything on my part because I hadn't filed taxes but after my fiancee's interview they told him I had to send a letter explaining why I didn't have to file taxes. After I did that it was accepted. This is what I wrote and what I attached too:

To Whom It May Concern:

I, __________, am the fiancé of __________ and petitioning sponsor.

I did not file an income tax return for the year 2013 because I did not earn any income. I was attending university supported by my parents during that time period. According to the filing requirements for single taxpayers in my age category, I was not required to file an income tax return with the Internal Revenue Service because my income (0 USD) did not reach $10,150, the minimum taxable income.

I obtained employment as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Qatar University in Doha, Qatar from April 27, 2014 through June 30, 2015 earning 14,400 Qatari Riyals (approx. $3,954) monthly. In 2014 I earned 88,784.52 Qatari Riyals (approx. $24,384), which does not meet the minimum threshold of Foreign Earned Income Exclusion in 2014 at $99,200 under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) section 911. Therefore, I was not required to file an income tax return in 2014.

Please find attached:

- IRS - Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

- 26 U.S. Code § 911 - Citizens or residents of the United States living abroad

Sincerely,

Hope this helps

[millefleur 5,034]

Yes you will need to write a letter. You shouldn't need anything from your employer. Just explain why you were not required to file taxes.

My then fiance (now husband) had his interview in Saudi, but assuming it's the same for you, I'll tell you what worked for us.

My situation is exactly like yours, while I was in the US I had not had to file taxes because I was a student and not earning an income. I was living abroad in Qatar where I was earning enough money to be over the taxable amount, however since it is foreign earned income it did not reach an amount that is taxable.

I had a co-sponsor (my mother) and had all her tax info provided. I just had my I-134 but didn't submit anything on my part because I hadn't filed taxes but after my fiancee's interview they told him I had to send a letter explaining why I didn't have to file taxes. After I did that it was accepted. This is what I wrote and what I attached too

Hi, thanks very much!! That's really helpful. I will do exactly as you did and hopefully everything will be ok!