Tax filing time....
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$8 grand? Good Gawd! On the other hand, you'll still have a nice sum to blow in Japan.
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Originally posted by jetta:
$8 grand? Good Gawd! On the other hand, you'll still have a nice sum to blow in Japan.
Woohoo! My federal refund was credited to my checking account this morning. Damn, I can certainly get used to this whole e-filing business.
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Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
Woohoo! My federal refund was credited to my checking account this morning. Damn, I can certainly get used to this whole e-filing business.Welcome to the 21st century.
I got mine credited yesterday, just in time too! -
having read all the relevant IRS publications, spoke to IRS staff and other tax fellas....i'm still not clear which form(s) to bloody use! grrrrrhhhhhhhhh
i just can't believe how hard it is to file for taxes in the states....and i'm supposedly good at this having filed all my self-employed taxes back home - having to itemise all my revenue/expenditure/other income and i also did all my hubby's past income taxes!
if the IRS staff are unsure....how can they possibly expect me to know how to file? SERIOUSLY!
WTF!!
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wah wah wah.....u both your refunds le ah!!!! *envy envy* i filed mine YESTERDAY!!!! will be getting back $$$$ *ahem* time for a holiday~~~~ :)
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Originally posted by lostintransition:
having read all the relevant IRS publications, spoke to IRS staff and other tax fellas....i'm still not clear which form(s) to bloody use! grrrrrhhhhhhhhh
i just can't believe how hard it is to file for taxes in the states....and i'm supposedly good at this having filed all my self-employed taxes back home - having to itemise all my revenue/expenditure/other income and i also did all my hubby's past income taxes!
if the IRS staff are unsure....how can they possibly expect me to know how to file? SERIOUSLY!
WTF!!
It's not too late to consult with a CPA. Oftentimes, all you need is one consultation before you can do it yourself, especially if it's your first time. JMHO.
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Originally posted by jetta:
It's not too late to consult with a CPA. Oftentimes, all you need is one consultation before you can do it yourself, especially if it's your first time. JMHO.
i spoke to one..but he doesn't seem too familiar with our tax status...my small town not used to having foreigners around... -
Originally posted by lostintransition:
i spoke to one..but he doesn't seem too familiar with our tax status...my small town not used to having foreigners around...Keep on searching. Google individuals, call CPA companies... In the meantime, get all your figures in order. Catalog your receipts, etc, to make things easier when you find a CPA.
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yeah....lost.......i agree with jetta. it's your first year doing the taxes. sg tax filing chicken feet. over here different mah. a whole bunch of diff tax credits or whatever. best is to get it done professionally your first time. then after that, u can do it yourself le. u don't want to lose out to the taxman too eh? ;-) look around some more. this was what i learnt when i landed here 2 decades ago. ALWAYS shop around.....sounds like a song....kekekeke....
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thanks gals. ya...i'll talk to a few more others...incld H&R block fellas. i finally figured out which form to use....and guess wat, it's not the same form that was recommended to me by the IR* guy....what nonsense!! they themselves dun know what's going on???!!! i was already doubtful about what he had told me over the phone...and i reiterated our situation but he still gave me the WRONG info!!! gggrrrrhhhhh
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Welcome to America. But seriously, you have to take a "physician, heal thyself" attitude. These early years are tough but once the groundwork is laid, life gets easier. Congrats on finding the right forms!
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thanks! yeah...guess something good did come out of it...i now know much much more about tax filing after gone through stacks and stacks of IRS instructions/forms/publications! hahahaha
actually...for the form that i'm supposed to be using...it seems like a pretty straightforward filing 'cos there aren't that many tax credits that we actually qualify for. so that's a "YEAY!" i guess in terms of the amount of work. and thank goodness there's no need to file foreign source income *phew*
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kekeke....maybe they outsourced the IR office??? kekekeke anyways, good for u, lost!!! after a few returns, u'll get the hang of it. ;-)
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Originally posted by littlestream:
kekeke....maybe they outsourced the IR office??? kekekeke anyways, good for u, lost!!! after a few returns, u'll get the hang of it. ;-)
Yah, outsourced to India. Or the Philippines.
If that day ever comes, God help us. -
Originally posted by lostintransition:
thanks gals. ya...i'll talk to a few more others...incld H&R block fellas. i finally figured out which form to use....and guess wat, it's not the same form that was recommended to me by the IR* guy....what nonsense!! they themselves dun know what's going on???!!! i was already doubtful about what he had told me over the phone...and i reiterated our situation but he still gave me the WRONG info!!! gggrrrrhhhhh
So which 1040 form do you have to use?
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Originally posted by Meia Gisborn:
So which 1040 form do you have to use?
Form 1040NR.can't use 1040NR-EZ 'cos must input IRA and moving expense. thank god no US investments yet - makes it a whole lot easier.
we can file 1040/1040NR as "dual status aliens" for 2009 but no real benefit in doing that in my opinion 'cos there aren't additional tax credits for dual status and we'd have to declare foreign source income for the period we are resident aliens (despite foreign tax deductible/other qualifying credits for the residency period but prob still not worthwhile in our case).
does it sound about right?
do you still remember which form/status you folks filed in your first year if you only arrived after mid-year?
once we get one more thing sorted out...then i'm ready to file...
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You should still file because it'll put you on the map for the next tax year.
I don't remember what forms I filled since I was tacked onto the hubster's tax papers as a dependent. I guess things are harder for you since you're both not Americans. In any case, you're ready to file. Good luck!
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Originally posted by lostintransition:
Form 1040NR.can't use 1040NR-EZ 'cos must input IRA and moving expense. thank god no US investments yet - makes it a whole lot easier.
we can file 1040/1040NR as "dual status aliens" for 2009 but no real benefit in doing that in my opinion 'cos there aren't additional tax credits for dual status and we'd have to declare foreign source income for the period we are resident aliens (despite foreign tax deductible/other qualifying credits for the residency period but prob still not worthwhile in our case).
does it sound about right?
do you still remember which form/status you folks filed in your first year if you only arrived after mid-year?
once we get one more thing sorted out...then i'm ready to file...
That's what I thought.
I had to file form 1040-NR for my first two years of work here, until I got my green card in '93.
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Originally posted by jetta:
You should still file because it'll put you on the map for the next tax year.
I don't remember what forms I filled since I was tacked onto the hubster's tax papers as a dependent. I guess things are harder for you since you're both not Americans. In any case, you're ready to file. Good luck!
yah..i'm thinking about that - whether or not i shld file 'cos i don't have to actually?i prob can...but 'cos i've to re-route the tax forms to the W7 unit first...and then it'd take them up to 10weeks to give me an ITIN...that will definitely delay my hubby's submission (we don't wish to pay for late penalty).
i suppose i can file for an extension but that's another extra step....OR i can always just do my W7 next year and then spouse and i can file jointly as resident aliens for 2010.
apart from credit card applications...does the ITIN benefit me in any other way? do i need an ITIN to buy a house? i can always get the bank to give me a letter to apply for ITIN later when i go and open my next interest-yielding bank account?
till i file the tax....it'd still be hanging over my head.....and i still have our singapore taxes to tackle....good gawd! i'd be having LOADS OF FUN with my 2 big boxes of SG receipts *faint*
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Originally posted by lostintransition:
yah..i'm thinking about that - whether or not i shld file 'cos i don't have to actually?i prob can...but 'cos i've to re-route the tax forms to the W7 unit first...and then it'd take them up to 10weeks to give me an ITIN...that will definitely delay my hubby's submission (we don't wish to pay for late penalty).
i suppose i can file for an extension but that's another extra step....OR i can always just do my W7 next year and then spouse and i can file jointly as resident aliens for 2010.
apart from credit card applications...does the ITIN benefit me in any other way? do i need an ITIN to buy a house? i can always get the bank to give me a letter to apply for ITIN later when i go and open my next interest-yielding bank account?
till i file the tax....it'd still be hanging over my head.....and i still have our singapore taxes to tackle....good gawd! i'd be having LOADS OF FUN with my 2 big boxes of SG receipts *faint*
Just file for an extension.
Your ITIN is mucho importante. It's a passport to getting an SSN, down the road. And remember, each time you apply for credit, it stays on your credit report f--o-r-e-v-e-r. Once you've been here a year, order a copy of your credit report and see what your credit score is. You'll have to pay about $15 to get your credit score. www.annualcreditreport.com
So take this lull to gather all your receipts, get all your expenses broken down into relevant categories, etc. Once you're done, you'll breathe easier. Good luck.
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i just have to vent...i'm almost done with both federal and state tax filing. unfortunately...i'm unable to get an ITIN 'cos i'm not filing (& cannot file) federal tax.
but i need an ID for state filing. so i called state rev dept & IRS...and the conversations went something like this:
me (to state rev dept) : i don't have SSN or ITIN which is required in state tax return form
state customer svc guy: oh you need an ID...please call IRS (can't wait for me to hang up)
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me (to IRS) : i need to obtain ITIN for state tax filing but i'm not filing federal tax
IRS customer svc gal: oh, you can only apply for ITIN if you file federal tax
me (to IRS) : can i file a zero return for federal tax and apply for ITIN
IRS customer svc gal: no..that's a fraudulent submission.
(then proceeds to make me answer 101 questions before telling me....)
IRS customer svc gal: sorry, you cannot apply for ITIN. please call your state tax dept
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me (to state rev dept) : IRS will not give me an ITIN and i don't have SSN....what should i indicate as ID on the state tax form?
state customer svc: huh?? ermmmmm.......(left me on the phone for good 10min or so)
state customer svc: then you file state return as "married filing separate return"
me (to state rev dept) : okkkkaayyy....but for "married filing separate return"...it is indicated on the form to "ENTER SPOUSE'S SOC. SEC NUMBER IN THE APPROPRIATE SPACE ABOVE"!!!!
state customer svc: ????????????
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I feel for you.
Is there a SSA office in your town? Sometimes a face to face appointment works better. HTHs.
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Originally posted by jetta:
I feel for you.
Is there a SSA office in your town? Sometimes a face to face appointment works better. HTHs.
thanks....just venting...no biggie
i've already been to the SSA in person. they'd never be able to issue me a SSN unless my VISA status changes.
and i'll only be able to apply for ITIN when we file for 2010 tax.
so...no solution for state tax filing...i'm just gonna write them a note. at least we don't owe the state any money.
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You've jogged my memory re: getting an ITIN at year 2. All is well, good to hear.
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finally FINALLY i'm done!!!
had to re-do state tax 'cos i didn't realise the income figures to report are different for federal and state taxes.
owe $ for federal tax..but very tiny amount.
getting back $ from state govt...but very tiny amount too.
so overall...barely any nett gain/loss....hahahaha
we don't qualify for much deductions/tax credits this year 'cos of filing status...but i think we'll do better for next year now that i know better what's required.