N-400 Tax Question, Is Answering No Ok?

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A question on the N-400 is "Have you ever NOT filed a federal, state, or local tax return since you became a permanent resident."

I haven't ever filed taxes. I've been a LPR since childhood and have always been claimed as a dependent on my parents tax return. I earn(ed) no income and am not required to file a return, nor do I owe any taxes. Is it ok to answer no to this question? Is being claimed as a dependent considered filing?

If I answer yes to this question the form states I have to gather all correspondence I have with the IRS(I don't have any). No clue what to do if I have to answer yes. Please help.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

Answer yes. Attach a simple explanation about never having had income and therefore not having been required to file.

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Answer yes. Attach a simple explanation about never having had income and therefore not having been required to file.

Is it necessary though? They can't of expected me to file taxes since childhood, right? My parents and family tax lawyer are telling me to just put no because being a dependent is considered filing?

Also they're telling me answering yes is going to seriously complicate/delay my application. What should I do...? Also why does this stupid question have to be here, why can't it just ask if i failed to file required taxes!

[EmilyW 1,222]

You have never filed taxes for a legitimate reason.

The advice you are receiving is advising you to LIE. That's never a good idea.

[aaron2020 11,651]

Is it necessary though? They can't of expected me to file taxes since childhood, right? My parents and family tax lawyer are telling me to just put no because being a dependent is considered filing?

Also they're telling me answering yes is going to seriously complicate/delay my application. What should I do...? Also why does this stupid question have to be here, why can't it just ask if i failed to file required taxes!

A dependent is not a tax filer. No competent tax attorney would ever consider a dependent a tax filer.

Why would you lie and complicate your life? This is foolish. You have a legal reason why you were not required to file. Answer truthfully. You do not have a problem unless you choose to lie for no good reason and want to screw up the N-400.

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You have never filed taxes for a legitimate reason.

The advice you are receiving is advising you to LIE. That's never a good idea.

So I take it from that, being a dependent isn't considered as being filed? What should I write in the letter, "I haven't earned any income so I wasn't required to file a tax return"? It can't be that simple, right? Also do I just write this out in pen? Is there some sort of print out I could use?

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A dependent is not a tax filer. No competent tax attorney would ever consider a dependent a tax filer.

Why would you lie and complicate your life? This is foolish. You have a legal reason why you were not required to file. Answer truthfully. You do not have a problem unless you choose to lie for no good reason and want to screw up the N-400.

The question just seems ridiculous to me tbh. I just turned 19, ofc I haven't filed taxes for the last 15 odd years. What should I write as the reason though? Like I said below "I earned no income so I wasn't required to file" doesn't seem like enough. Also it tells me to get correspondence with the IRS if I answer yes to this question.

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

Is it necessary though? They can't of expected me to file taxes since childhood, right? My parents and family tax lawyer are telling me to just put no because being a dependent is considered filing?

Also they're telling me answering yes is going to seriously complicate/delay my application. What should I do...? Also why does this stupid question have to be here, why can't it just ask if i failed to file required taxes!

Yes, it's necessary to answer these questions truthfully or you commit perjury and fraud. No, answering "YES" to one of these questions in itself will not complicate or delay your application.

You had a legitimate reason not to file taxes, you weren't required by the IRS. So far, you've done nothing wrong. You should keep it that way and avoid lying on the form.

Edited December 11, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[EM_Vandaveer 2,369]

The question just seems ridiculous to me tbh. I just turned 19, ofc I haven't filed taxes for the last 15 odd years. What should I write as the reason though? Like I said below "I earned no income so I wasn't required to file" doesn't seem like enough. Also it tells me to get correspondence with the IRS if I answer yes to this question.

It's enough. Sign and date it.

Plenty of people who use a joint sponsor for the I-1864 have to write the same simple declaration to send with their I-864. It's perfectly fine.

Obviously you have no correspondence with the IRS, you don't have to provide something you do not have.

Edited December 12, 2016 by EM_Vandaveer

[MariaR323 199]

If you do want to take one step further, you can request a verification of non filing from the IRS; also, you can request a wage & income transcript which would show you had 0 income and/or show income below the filing threshold.

You can request those transcripts via phone since you're not going to have info to verify thru the online option. You'll receive it in the mail within a week or so.