Any tax accountant/lawyers here?

amother

Mon, May 11 2020, 10:12 pm

I need some answers, if any can help, I'd really appreciate.
Basically I'm American and live overseas with a non American husband. I have one daughter, she just turned one.
I haven't filed taxes for the last two years since I made no money. This past school year I worked remotely for a NY school and was paid, received a w2 but it was under the threshold to file taxes.
Now with the stimulus check I have a question. I tried to go to the IRS website and use the non filers option but it said something about only using if you aré submitting info with your spouse.
So that doesn't work but why?
Should I just file regular taxes with my tiny amount?

amother

Navy

Mon, May 11 2020, 10:33 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I don't have the answer to why you can't use the no-filer option - but it sounds like for you to file a married filing separately return would be fairly easy. (Don't forget to report any income earned in Israeli from Israeli sources).

amother

Mon, May 11 2020, 10:36 pm

Thanks, I don't live in Israel, and I haven't made any money in my own currency either.
My hesitation is that won't a tax return with 500 dollar amount for the whole year raise red flags? Is there somewhere to put in that my husband, a non American citizen, supports me?

amother

Navy

Mon, May 11 2020, 10:43 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

If you file the 'non filer' return, or you file a 1040 - you are filing something. So if there will be a 'flag'.. there it is.

No, place to put your husband support you. The IRS doesn't care.

Is there something you are hiding?

IMHO - no flag.

(sorry about wrongly filling in a blank).

Do you have bank accounts in your name?

amother

Mon, May 11 2020, 10:48 pm

Nope, not hiding anything.
Truth is the IRS officially has my info, no? From my W-2.
So I should just file regular turbo tax? I can't do 1099 cuz I already have a W-2

amother

Navy

Mon, May 11 2020, 11:54 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Nope, not hiding anything.
Truth is the IRS officially has my info, no? From my W-2.
So I should just file regular turbo tax? I can't do 1099 cuz I already have a W-2

sure. file using turbo tax. you want to be filing a 1040, married filing separately as your status.

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 1:42 pm

So, I tried filing through TurboTax and when I put in married but filing separately, it still needs my husband's social security number. He is Brazilian, he doesn't have one. What are my other options

amother

Navy

Tue, May 12 2020, 7:56 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Input "NRA" for your husband's social security number.

Married Filing Separately
Check the “Married filing separately”
box at the top of Form 1040 or 1040-SR
if you are married and file a separate return. Enter your spouse’s name in the
entry space below the filing status
checkboxes. Be sure to enter your spouse’s SSN or ITIN in the space for spouse’s SSN on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If
your spouse doesn’t have and isn’t required to have an SSN or ITIN, enter
“NRA.”

You'll need "paper file" the return.

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:09 pm

Thanks so much for your help, I really appreciate it.
TurboTax will only let me input numbers for the social security number. They say that if you are married your husband must have a SSN or ITIN .
Also just reading over your replies, I do have a us bank account in my name. Does that make any difference?
Just another point
Resident state I put foreign but then for mailing address and the address on my W-4 I have a us address - does this make sense

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:13 pm

Ok, I did some digging on the site, apparently you have to input 9999 etc ,print the tax return, erase the numbers and then write in NRA.
I'm gonna try and see if any of the other online filers have an easier option

amother

Navy

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:17 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I think you are stuck with paper filing in your situation, unfortunately - but happy to be wrong.

Also note in your situation, you need to file a 1040 when you have $5 of income. So this 2019 return isn't really optional for you.

amother

Navy

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:22 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

The bank account question - (1) if you have earned any interest, its reportable on your 1040. (2) you need to file an 'FBAR' if your had more than $10,000 USD in any offshore account at any point in 2019. Sounds like yours is in the US.

The resident state question doesn't go on the 1040 - so don't worry about it, its probably just to figure out what state returns you should be doing on the software.

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:22 pm

I thought there was a threshold of income to file taxes, no? Or does that not apply when you live out of the country?

How would head of household work, would that also require a SSN for my husband?

amother

Navy

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:26 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

I thought there was a threshold of income to file taxes, no? Or does that not apply when you live out of the country?

How would head of household work, would that also require a SSN for my husband?

From what you told me - you don't qualify to file head of household

When you file married filing separately - the threshold is $5.

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:29 pm

I have one bank account with about $3000 in it, $2500 put in recently (my mother sent me to help make pesach) it's a regular checking account so no interest there. I have no other bank accounts in any other country.
I have a W-2 with $120 earned from giving some workshops remotely to a school in NY.
I didn't even dream I needed to file taxes I was only thinking of doing it for the stimulus check.
So you have helped me loads. What else should I be aware of?

amother

Navy

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:43 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

You probably should find a local US CPA to talk to Smile

We didn't talk about child tax credits... I'm not saying anything on that topic - turbotax should be asking you relevant questions.

There may be other stuff - please don't consider this a consultation covering everything.

amother

Tue, May 12 2020, 8:47 pm

Thanks so much for your help.
From what I've read, I don't think I qualify for any child tax credits, you have to either live in the USA or make like $12000 or something.
I'm beginning to think I should have not charged for the workshop, it's ending up being a hassle.