Owing back taxes and naturalization

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Bonito7

New Member
Hi,
I owe back taxes for '02 and '03. I do have payment arrangements with the IRS. Does anyone know if this will be a problem in the naturalization process?
Should I wait and have it payed off first, or can I go ahead and file the N400?
Thanks for any info.
 
You are good to go

:) As long as you have documentary evidence of your arrangements with Tax Authorities, You should be good to go! :)
 
Thanks, let me ask one more question.
What should I put on the N-400 form, where it asks:
Part 10 A 4
Since you becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, have you ever failed to file a required Federal state or local tax return?

What sould I put there, yes (and may get in trouble?
Or no and may be lying?

Thanks a million
 
Since you mentioned that you have payment arrangements with IRS, I GUESS, you must either have filed the taxes or filed for extension.

If that is true (HAS TO BE), then I would say, you should put NO for that question.

DISCLAIMER: I am sure you know that I'm not a lawyer ( :) ). This is just my opinion based on the information you provided. If you are not sure, please consult with a professional immigration lawyer.

Thanks,
Newbie001.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I do not think you are in trouble : although you owe taxes, you have a payment arrangement with the IRS, which shows that you filed your taxes.
So I agree with the others.
But bring the evidence of the agreement.
 
Bonito7 said:
Thanks, let me ask one more question.
What should I put on the N-400 form, where it asks:
Part 10 A 4
Since you becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident, have you ever failed to file a required Federal state or local tax return?

What sould I put there, yes (and may get in trouble?
Or no and may be lying?

Thanks a million
Click to expand...

Failed to file actually means, you did not file. So, you can say "NO" to that question. But I think there is another question where they ask do you owe any federal/local taxes? You probably have to say "YES" and explain that you have made payment arrangement with IRS.
 
Well, it is possible that you did not file and did not ask for an extension and that the Tax Dept did an audit and found this out and sent you a bill. In that case you could not truthfully answer that you NO to the question of whether you have ever failed to file a required tax return.

The more interesting question is this: what if you mailed it in and they never received it BUT you cannot prove that you mailed it i.e. Return Reciept and then 3 years later they sent you a bill. Can you say that did file your taxes even if none were filed?
 
In a case where you do not file tax return for several years, and then file the tax return...and pay proper penelty...then you can be considered as having filed tax returns as required...
 
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