Another I-134 question(s)

[jw1 1]

Hello all, 

I have two questions for filling out the I-134.  I have been here long enough to know that I should just read the questions literally, but I tend to think too much and then everything goes gray.  The main goal here is to not do anything that would trigger an RFE, so I would like to hear what other people have answered with success.

 

These questions are from form I-134, 01/20/25 edition

 

The first question is part 2, question 14:
How many other dependents do you support (including yourself)

 

This seems obvious that it should be 1, but then question 15, asks for a list all of my dependents, and says do not include yourself...
Is the consensus that I should put 1 for question 14?

The other question is for part 2, question 16:
What is your annual income?

 

At first glance, this seems simple, just add my wages and social security payments, done.  But again, I started thinking, and in an effort to not trigger an RFE, I got lost.

 

I have a W-2 which lists Wages, tips, other compensation in Box 1, but that number doesn't include 401k contributions.  Box 3 on the W-2, Social security wages does include 401k contributions. 

 

Then, there is the tax transcript with its own amibiguities.  There are two numbers that I might use, Total wages:  which is the same as box 1 on the W-2, and Total income: which includes social security payments received along with the box 1 wages from the W-2, but again, does not include 401k contributions. 

 

Do I just use the Total income from the transcript?  That seems to match the question on the I-134, but it doesn't include the 401k income. 

I feel like having the numbers match the other documentation is more important than including all of the income as I am far enough above the required miminum that it is not an issue.

 

What have other people here stated for their annual income?

Thanks,
John

Edited Tuesday at 04:49 PM by jw1

[TBoneTX 49,536]

Thread is shifted from the K-1 Case Progress subforum to the K-1 Process forum.

[jw1 1]

Just to muddy the waters further, below are from the instructions.  Note it say OTHER individuals, which implies I should not include myself:

Item Numbers 14., 15., and 16. Financial Responsibility for Other Individuals.
Provide information about other individuals who are dependent on your income.

So for number 14, How many other dependents do you support (including yourself)? 
Instead of 0 or 1, I'm thinking of putting:  No other dependents, just myself  

What has everyone else put here?

[jw1 1]

ugh, I can't read sometimes.

More instructions:
Item Number 17.  Income.  
If you filed a Federal tax return, enter the amount from the line listing your adjusted gross income on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.

that seems self-explanatory, although it does not include any 401k contributions.  

[pushbrk 14,436]

Yes, you are overthinking but a little underthinking too.  Current income does not come from a tax return.  Tax returns are "literally" about the past.  The new I-134 is pretty cumbersome though.  If one question has the words "including yourself" include yourself when answering that question. If another question says not counting yourself, then the answers to different questions will be different answer.  Yes, you current income comes from the gross income before deductions on a pay stub, not a tax return or W2.  They don't match because they are for different purposes.