TAX

[internetkafe 0]

Is it good to have income in home country for filing taxes in the US? (For non-resident aliens who had not resided whole year in the US) Does it make a difference if you had income there or not? Also what would the effect of your foreign income have on tax refunds? If you had income in your home country...that means you paid all taxes related to that income. Would they tax it second time now? And what if you do not have any proof that you worked in home country?

[Mand 1]

I am not familiar with Turkish laws, but in answer to your questions:

I'm pretty sure the IRS don't care if you worked or not in your home country. If you did however, you must declare this income by filling out form 2555-EZ (Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion) and including this figure as a minus on your 1040. It will not affect your refund/repay. This form allows you to exclude your foreign income and therefore avoid a U.S tax upon it.

If you have no proof of this foreign income, you have no proof. Sit down with a pen and paper and estimate your total Turkish earnings and this is your figure.

[russ 1]

I am not familiar with Turkish laws, but in answer to your questions:

I'm pretty sure the IRS don't care if you worked or not in your home country. If you did however, you must declare this income by filling out form 2555-EZ (Foreign Earned Income Tax Exclusion) and including this figure as a minus on your 1040. It will not affect your refund/repay. This form allows you to exclude your f

For US Citizens, they definitely do care. The exclusion is good only up to a limit (86,000 last I checked), after that, foreign income is subject to US tax. You can generally deduct foreign taxes paid from US tax due. Check with an international tax lawyer on this if you have substantial foreign income.

[internetkafe 0]

Thank you Mand and Russ,

I will heed your advice.