do i need to fill income-tax return as zero? URGENT

M

mary1

New Member
I got my gc last year (Consular Processing and I was outside US throughout the processing) and came to US last year itself. After that I had to go back (no income while in US ) and returned this year. This time i have changed the employer. Do i need to fill income-tax returns now as zero returns? or there is no need to file income-tax returns?

It would be great if somebody can reply fast as the deadline for IT return is coming near by.

Thanks
 
As far as I know, filing income tax return is not mandatory if you do not owe any tax. That means you don't have to file if you owe 0 tax or negative tax - any return. If you don't need to pay the government, why do you need to file a tax return?

However, as GC holder, you need to file return based your global income rather than your US income.
 
Thanks for the quick reply.

In what way is a Global income-return different than the normal return?

I mean, whatever i earned in non-US country, I have paid tax there and have filed the return there and why should US govt. worry about that?

Thanks
 
chinabee said:
As far as I know, filing income tax return is not mandatory if you do not owe any tax. That means you don't have to file if you owe 0 tax or negative tax - any return. If you don't need to pay the government, why do you need to file a tax return?

However, as GC holder, you need to file return based your global income rather than your US income.
Click to expand...

Wrong!!! You do not have to file tax return if your income is
below standard deduction. Otherwise you are required by law
to file tax return even if IRS owe you due to overwithholding.

The starter of this thread does not need to file tax return
because he did not have any taxable income not because
of not owing taxes.

Even if you have zero income, I still recommend you
file a tax (very simple in this case anyway) to get
a tax record in case that citizenship application
request you to submit tax history for more than 3 years.
 
mary1 said:
Thanks for the quick reply.

In what way is a Global income-return different than the normal return?

I mean, whatever i earned in non-US country, I have paid tax there and have filed the return there and why should US govt. worry about that?

Thanks
Click to expand...


You can file a dual-status return
 
Thanks.. for the inputs

so, that means, if i dont file tax-return, it shouldn't be a problem. While if I file a zero tax-return, it is better...

I also dont have any W2..so, will the IRS accept my income-tax return without W2?

Also, if i decide to file zero-tax return, which form should i use for Federal and which form for state (as i did not earn anything in any state of US, then that is also a question..??
 
chinabee said:
As far as I know, filing income tax return is not mandatory if you do not owe any tax. That means you don't have to file if you owe 0 tax or negative tax - any return. If you don't need to pay the government, why do you need to file a tax return?
Click to expand...

Hmmm, without filing tax return how do you know (or IRS will know) that whether you owe any tax or not? :rolleyes:

If the gross income is less than certain amount (based on age, type of main income, number of dependents), then filing tax return is not required. Otherwise, filing tax return is mandatory.
 
mary1 said:
Thanks.. for the inputs

so, that means, if i dont file tax-return, it shouldn't be a problem. While if I file a zero tax-return, it is better...

I also dont have any W2..so, will the IRS accept my income-tax return without W2?

Also, if i decide to file zero-tax return, which form should i use for Federal and which form for state (as i did not earn anything in any state of US, then that is also a question..??
Click to expand...

Use 1040 EZ. Put down 0 at W-2 wages line etc
 
as far as I know , you are supposed to file a tax return even if you did not earn anything....this is so that IRS can have on record that you did not pay any taxes this year because you did not earn anything....
 
chinabee said:
Tell me the penalty if you don't file tax return when you owe <0 tax to Uncle Sam.
Click to expand...

You better ask this question to tax attorneies, one of them said the
prison is full of people who think not fiuling tax return is no matter
 
chinabee said:
Tell me the penalty if you don't file tax return when you owe <0 tax to Uncle Sam.
Click to expand...



26 USC 7203 - Willful failure to file return, supply information, or pay tax


Release date: 2004-09-28

Any person required under this title to pay any estimated tax or tax, or required by this title or by regulations made under authority thereof to make a return, keep any records, or supply any information, who willfully fails to pay such estimated tax or tax, make such return, keep such records, or supply such information, at the time or times required by law or regulations, shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $25,000 ($100,000 in the case of a corporation), or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both, together with the costs of prosecution. In the case of any person with respect to whom there is a failure to pay any estimated tax, this section shall not apply to such person with respect to such failure if there is no addition to tax under section 6654 or 6655 with respect to such failure. In the case of a willful violation of any provision of section 6050I, the first sentence of this section shall be applied by substituting “felony” for “misdemeanor” and “5 years” for “1 year”.
 
rather than interpreting such laws and taking a risk....just file the tax return with 0 income, and let IRS keep that record.
unless of course you have another reason for not wanting to file returns...
 
Thanks for the inputs.

I tried turbo-tax online to file the tax and gave no-income whenever it asked. and at the end of it it never told that u may not file any return as you had no income. I guess, filing a tax return even if i earned zero dollars, would be better off than not filing.

Still i am hunting, so if u guys come across any govt. site, etc which clearly says that filing of income-tax is not necessary if ur gross income is zero or less than as specified in Chart A as mentioned by Americanwannabe, than please do share it

Thanks
 
File it, you might be eligible for EIC(earn income credit), which might make Uncle SAM pay to you...:D :D, doesn't hurt to get some money from Uncle SAM for a change. :D :D .
 
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