Resident vs Nonresident taxes

[zxmn52]

Could someone tell me difference between filing taxes between these 2 options.
Someone mentioned a USC interviewer asking a question related to this.

[sarrebal]

Different forms. For details, go on www.irs.gov

But if you're a GC holder (or H/L visa holder), you MUST file as resident.

[bashar82]

If you're non-resident (i.e. living outside of the US), the first $70,000 of your income is tax-free. That is the difference between the two. But as Sarrebal mentioned, non-citizens must file as residents even if you live outside the country. USCIS may (it's at their discretion) use evidence of you filing as a non-resident to determine that you have abandoned your permanent residency.

[wik]

When I arrived in the USA in 1993, on an O-1 visa (dual intent), I started filing taxes as a resident because my understanding was that I was 'residing' here. O-1 visa have no theoretical time limit (they are not limited to, say 6 years, total) but you do have to get them extended every year after the first three. When we got our GCs, we continued to file the same 'resident' style 1040. So, in 13 years we have filed 12 tax returns as residents. I have not lived anywhere else during those 13 years, nor earned any income abroad.

This was all based on the assessment of my tax accountant starting back in 1993. Now, I am not sure whether we should have filed different tax returns for the years prior to obtaining our GCs. When we filed our 485s, we of course provided several years of tax returns, which were clearly 'resident' style 1040s. Our GCs were approved without RFEs or interviews.

[TheRealCanadian]

Originally Posted by wik

Now, I am not sure whether we should have filed different tax returns for the years prior to obtaining our GCs. When we filed our 485s, we of course provided several years of tax returns, which were clearly 'resident' style 1040s. Our GCs were approved without RFEs or interviews.

Residency has different meanings for tax and immigration purposes. Generally, if you are working in the US and meet the substantial presence test (over 183 days in the US in a year, or some combination of days in the previous three years) then you file as a resident.

I have always filed my US taxes as a full-year resident.