Jump to content
Dan Jr

How to file file taxes? (Spouse just obtained GC and SS)

By Dan Jr in Tax & Finances During US Immigration

 Share

7 posts in this topic

Recommended Posts

Dan Jr Contributor

Dan Jr   22

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

Hi all, It's tax season and there are many questions going around regarding taxes, and I have one more.

Here's my case:

-Got married in January 2017

-Spouse lived abroad waiting for interview during all of 2017

-Spouse obtained residency and social security number and moved to the US in January 2018

 

Should we file as MFJ? Or should I file as MFS?

Thanks in advance. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Khallaf Proficient

Khallaf   649

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Egypt
 Timeline
Posted

 

44 minutes ago, Dan Jr said:

Hi all, It's tax season and there are many questions going around regarding taxes, and I have one more.

Here's my case:

-Got married in January 2017

-Spouse lived abroad waiting for interview during all of 2017

-Spouse obtained residency and social security number and moved to the US in January 2018

 

Should we file as MFJ? Or should I file as MFS?

Thanks in advance. 

 

you were married all of 2017, even if your spouse was still over seas like mine is right now, you just file for Itin, but your spouse has a SSN, you can file MFJ but remember to include all of the income they had oversea in 2017.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dan Jr Contributor

Dan Jr   22

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
8 minutes ago, Khallaf said:

 

you were married all of 2017, even if your spouse was still over seas like mine is right now, you just file for Itin, but your spouse has a SSN, you can file MFJ but remember to include all of the income they had oversea in 2017.

Ok. Makes sense. Thanks a lot! 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Binna Enthusiast

Binna   108

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Jamaica
 Timeline
Posted
3 hours ago, Dan Jr said:

Ok. Makes sense. Thanks a lot! 

Check out this posting here

 

3. Dual-Status/NRA spouse + Filing Jointly

 

 

 

You can choose to treat your dual-status/NRA spouse as a RA for tax purposes for the entire tax year in question. This option allows you to file a joint return (MFJ) and apply all eligible deductions and credits. You would be required to report BOTH spouse's worldwide income. A special election statement needs to be attached to your return indicating this choice. See the following IRS link for how to write the election statement: http://1.usa.gov/1Sw3S7A

 

SSN/ITIN is needed.
 
Since you now have SSN you may file as MFJ above but since you weren't making any US income all through 2017, you would need to report all your spouses income outside the US in 2017 though.

...do good and good will be done onto you...

Link to comment
Share on other sites
MariaR323 Proficient

MariaR323   199

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
Posted

The real determining factor as to what filing status to use will be the amount of INCOME to report, which ultimately defines your tax liability.

 

Basically, you should run the numbers both ways to see which filing status produces less taxes :thumbs: 

Maria ~ U.S. Citizen

 

K-1 & K-2 Process (Completed in 4 mos. 8 days)

 

1/19/16: I-129F Package recv'd by USCIS via FedEx overnight

4/1/16: NOA2 Approval :dancing:

5/17/16: Interview :star: - APPROVED :dance:

5/25/16 : Visas in hand! :thumbs: 

8/5/16: Wedding (L)

AOS/EAD/AP Process, K-1 & K-2 (Completed in 4 mos. 15 days)

 

9/21/16: Package recv'd by USCIS via FedEx overnight [Day 1]

10/24/16: AOS Cases (I-864) RFIE recv'd hardcopy [Day 29]

12/23/16: AOS Case Status Updates - Interview Scheduled, text recv'd [Day 94] :dancing:

1/17/17: EAD/AP Combo Card recv'd via USPS Priority Mail [Day 119]

1/27/17: AOS Interview :star: - APPROVED!! :dance:  [Day 129 / 120 w/ 9day RFIE delay]

1/27/17: AOS Case status update - Approved | 1/31/17: New Card in Production | 2/1/17: Card Was Mailed

2/4/17: Green Cards Arrived :thumbs:

ROC Process, Spouse & 2 Step-Sons (Completed in 23 mos. 22 days)

 

1/25/19: Package recv'd by USCIS via FedEx overnight [Day 1]

1/29/19: NOA notice date, text & email recv'd, routed to CSC

2/1/19: NOA 18mo. Extension Letter arrived in the mail, for wife only [Day 7]

3/13/19: Filed SR for non-receipt of NOA for I-751A dependents [Day 48] | 3/21/19: Recv'd NOA for 2 stepsons [Day 56]

4/29/19: Biometrics (Scheduled) Appt Completed [Day 95]

8/28/20: Case Status Update - RFE [Day 582 ~ 19 mos. 4 days] | 11/20/20: Case Status Update - RFE response recv'd [Day 666 ~ 21 mos. 27 days]

1/7/21: Case Status Update - New Card in Production :dance: [Day 714 ~ 23 mos. 14 days] 

1/15/21: Green Cards Arrived :thumbs:[Day 722 ~ 23 mos. 22 days]

All done for now! :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites
payxibka Grand Master

payxibka   10,044

Posted
Filed: AOS (apr) Country: Philippines
 Timeline
Posted
On 1/30/2018 at 11:33 AM, Khallaf said:

 

you were married all of 2017, even if your spouse was still over seas like mine is right now, you just file for Itin, but your spouse has a SSN, you can file MFJ but remember to include all of the income they had oversea in 2017.

Don't need to be married all of the year, just by the last day of the year

YMMV

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Dan Jr Contributor

Dan Jr   22

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Mexico
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
12 hours ago, MariaR323 said:

The real determining factor as to what filing status to use will be the amount of INCOME to report, which ultimately defines your tax liability.

 

Basically, you should run the numbers both ways to see which filing status produces less taxes :thumbs: 

 

7 hours ago, payxibka said:

Don't need to be married all of the year, just by the last day of the year

Thank you both for your response. This website is a real life saver :) 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing
- Back to Top -

Important Disclaimer: Please read carefully the Visajourney.com Terms of Service. If you do not agree to the Terms of Service you should not access or view any page (including this page) on VisaJourney.com. Answers and comments provided on Visajourney.com Forums are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Visajourney.com does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. VisaJourney.com does not condone immigration fraud in any way, shape or manner. VisaJourney.com recommends that if any member or user knows directly of someone involved in fraudulent or illegal activity, that they report such activity directly to the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. You can contact ICE via email at Immigration.Reply@dhs.gov or you can telephone ICE at 1-866-347-2423. All reported threads/posts containing reference to immigration fraud or illegal activities will be removed from this board. If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by contacting us here with a url link to that content. Thank you.
×
×
  • Create New...