I-864 K1 visa filing AOS after marriage in 2026. Tax Transcripts & other questions

[Aquabac 23]

We are filing  the I-485 AOS for my wife now.
I'm retired but still  have taxable income well above the threshold
I'm now  doing the  I-864 and  just want to double check regarding transcripts and whether to include assets and a few other questions.

I searched a few threads but most are a few years old and I also miss the forest for the trees from time to time ( actually, sometimes I focus on the wrong trees 😉)  so I thought it okay to ask .

1)  IRS Tax transcripts: Is 2024 the most recent year since it is not April 15th yet?

 

2) When using IRS Return transcripts ( NOT Account of course)  is it  truly  best to use just the most recent year ( 2024 since it's before April)   or best to use 3 years even if you make well more than the poverty guidelines?

3) When filling out the 864   #7 "My current individual annual income ": Should that be what is listed as Total income on the Return transcript?

3a) which is also the  same # input under  Part 6 16a Most Recent  Tax year and Total Income?

4) In an old thread it was mentioned if you only use recent year you should only supply that years Return transcript BUT  you still need to fill out the total Income from the previous 2 years transcripts  in Part 6 section 16.b and 16.c

The quote from that thread is "Just to be clear, the amount earned for the last 3 years is required to be listed but only the returns for the last year is required to be attached."

That seems odd to me and not what I read on the guidelines on the USCIS website.
Perhaps things have changed? Or changed back even?  I just want to check

 

4) Part 7 Use of Assets 
I do not need to use assets  and the guideline says "Only complete Part 7. if you need to use the value of assets to meet the income requirements. "
So I should not fill that out  but can I,  and should I include in the filing , account statements to the 864 that show assets as further proof of my capability of continually being well above the poverty guidelines?

 

Reading the Guidelines it seems all I need to attach as far as income requirements  is the Return transcripts of 2024 but that just feels too easy  

 

Thanks for your guidance

 

[Crazy Cat 46,263]

1 hour ago, Aquabac said:

I'm retired but still  have taxable income well above the threshold

FYI-  Non-taxable income that you can document such as VA benefits can also be used.