liveeasy

So today I called a turbotax specialist. First he was surprised about the money I have to pay for the government after I change my filling status from HH to MFJ. Then he said " I think you lost the benefit of being HH as a single dad taking care of 2 kids by your self, and once you change it to MHJ you could let your wife work and help you out". I do not know if this is the reason or not. We have gone with all deductions and everything else and nothing changed. 

Just now, rcripps said:

Spouse is not a dependent but there is a tax savings. Your tax liability should have been less with a MFJ status.  Did you remember to use the Foreign Income Exclusion? Are you using TurboTax?

 

Yes I'm using turbotax,,, what is Foreign Income Exclusion? I only changed the status of filling from HH to MFJ, should i do other things? 

Ok, look if I need to amend my tax what I need to send to the IRS in addition to the 1040X form? 

3 minutes ago, J+H said:

If you're married, you're not eligible to file HoH.  You should probably talk to a tax professional.

I had to do so since my wife has no SSN or ITIN 

5 minutes ago, Suss&Camm said:

You spouse is never your dependent. You both get an extra standard deduction and exemption on your joint income. (She is not a dependent even if she has no income). It's impossible to say why you are getting the result you are getting without seeing exactly what you have done...

 

Have you tried double-checking by hand calculation to find what could be the issue? I've never used TurboTax, but can't you see what exemptions and deductions are added and where?

If I only fill out the 1040X form and send it to the IRS will they do the calculations or I also need to get another things from turbotax?

Hello all,

I tried to amend my 2016 return tax and change it from head of household to married filling jointly in order to apply for ITIN. When I did it via turbotax, I found I owe the government. I'm wonder how this could happen since number of dependents now increased, in my original return I claimed two citizen kids and now adding my wife so the total is 3 dependent plus me. I have been told it will increase my refund but now I see the opposite. 

On 2/21/2017 at 2:35 PM, sharkfin07 said:

File  your 2016 as MFJ, with the W-7 form and supporting docs for her ITIN. then, amend the 2015 return after, once you get the ITIN. you have 3 years from date due to amend it anyway, ok?

Now i'm trying to amend my 2016 tax return but somehow I found I owe the government. How come, now I have new dependent beside my 2 kids.

49 minutes ago, Corey911 said:

same here, at the time of filling we were married, but I couldn't get SSN due to I94 expired and no EAD yet or other legal document to get SSN, so he filed as single.(

Why do not u pply for ITIN 

10 hours ago, sharkfin07 said:

they won't penalize you. you penalized yourself already with HH as filing status. HH's standard deduction is much lesser than MFJ and less exemption amount as wifey was not included.

i guess,, you were just impatient to efile it as you can not efile  return when requesting for an ITIN at the same time.

i wonder why wife didn't apply for SS no. if she came in legal? 

 

IRS may have asked you these questions because it is surprising why you didn't include wife despite the much greater benefits. they don't know that you just don't know. that's why it is always better to consult those with experience. you could have also, consulted turbo tax online help with your problem then. 

 

you must amend it the soonest to include wife and file the W-7 at the same time, so that you still have time to file the 2016 return MFJ, as it takes some weeks for an ITIN to come back to you. no efile for this amended return

 

go to a tax preparer near you but make sure she/he knows your problem and its urgency to be amended.

 

good luck..

 

 

Yes she came legally but she is not eligible for SSN under F2 visa. Due to lack of knowledge, I did not apply for itin till this year where I have been told we can apply. I already filled my tax return for the 2016 year 2 weeks ago and as HH via turbotax, so now I have to amend it and send the correction with W7 form, right? I was planing to go to the IRS. 

17 minutes ago, liveeasy said:

Yes I have 2 kids. In my new job HR asked for ITIN to my wife for health insurance purposes. 

2 hours ago, sharkfin07 said:

First question: Did you have a child/children last year when you filed as HH? Next, was your wife with you here in the US when you filed last year?

 

You file HH when you have a child or dependents.

Next, if wifey was here you could have filed MFJ your return at the same time apply for wife's ITIN, using form W-7.

If you didn't have a child / dependent last year but filed HH,  IRS has every reason to ask you what they are asking now.  Am not sure as you have not answered my questions.

 

I happen to be a tax preparer, btw.

 

 

I have 2 kids and my wife was and still living with us. I had no idea about married jointly or separately, I use turbotax. 

1 hour ago, rcripps said:

You were married. Head of Household was not an option for filing. Married filing Jointly or Separately were your two filing options. The IRS will want you to refile correctly. 

Once I pick married then I need her SSN or ITIN which I do not have. Will they penalize me or will ask me to amend it.

1 hour ago, sharkfin07 said:

but you have the option to amend your 2015 return if filing status was in error, so fear not.

It is no error but I had no option. When pick married then I need SSN or ITIN which she does not have so I had to pick HH

2 hours ago, sharkfin07 said:

First question: Did you have a child/children last year when you filed as HH? Next, was your wife with you here in the US when you filed last year?

 

You file HH when you have a child or dependents.

Next, if wifey was here you could have filed MFJ your return at the same time apply for wife's ITIN, using form W-7.

If you didn't have a child / dependent last year but filed HH,  IRS has every reason to ask you what they are asking now.  Am not sure as you have not answered my questions.

 

I happen to be a tax preparer, btw.

 

 

Yes I have 2 kids. In my new job HR asked for ITIN to my wife for health insurance purposes. 

Hi all,

I filled my taxes last year as head of household while married since my wife has no SSN. Now I asked for ITIN from the IRS, but IRS asked about my tax return of the last year. Are they going to make troubles once see I'm married and filing as head of household?