Back filing taxes - expedited

[Ksenia]

Hello,

I am an American citizen who has been living abroad for the past 5 years. I haven't filed any taxes since I left the States, because I mistakenly thought I didn't need to. Now I am applying for a CR-1 immigrant visa for my Chinese husband, and I know I have to supply my tax returns for the past 3 years. So, I have two questions.

1. Can I back-file my taxes without any W-2's? I have been working for small English schools and agencies in Japan, Russia, and China, as well as studying, so I doubt that they will have any tax information on record, let alone in English. (I also haven't been making much, about $15,000 per year max).

2. Is there any way to expedite the tax return procedure? Our visa appointment is in 3 weeks from today. If possible, I would like to have the returns by Nov. 4, and will pay extra if necessary, as it looks like my husband's green card approval depends on these tax returns.

Should I hire a tax service to help me with this? If yes, do you guys have any good recommendations?

Your replies will be greatly greatly appreciated! Thank you!!

Ksenia and Dongguan

[Randy W]

Expedite what ?? You can fill out and mail your returns TOMORROW. Make copies, and file those with your I-864.

Check out the Form 4582, Substitute for Form W-2. Be sure to use the Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income "Exclusion", AND the Foreign Earned Income worksheet in your 1040 instructions, and you will most likely owe zero taxes, zero penalty, and zero Late fee.

Even the Form 4582 may be unnecessary, but they may lend a little sense of legitimacy to your income, since you'll identify the source.

Edited October 26, 2016 by Randy W (see edit history)

[Greg.D.]

Having said all that (good reply, by the way), a sponsor will still be required? Not meaning to pry, just noticing that showing a mere $15K/year abroad by it self would not be sufficient to sponsor a spouse; I aplogize if you have other plans you chose not to include in the original post.

[Ksenia]

Expedite what ?? You can fill out and mail your returns TOMORROW. Make copies, and file those with your I-864.

 

Check out the Form 4582, Substitute for Form W-2. Be sure to use the Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income "Exclusion", AND the Foreign Earned Income worksheet in your 1040 instructions, and you will most likely owe zero taxes, zero penalty, and zero Late fee.

 

Even the Form 4582 may be unnecessary, but they may lend a little sense of legitimacy to your income, since you'll identify the source.

Expedite the returns being completed and sent back to me so that I have them for our visa interview on Nov. 16. I know I can file individually with the IRS, but then I'll most likely have to wait 6 weeks for the returns to be processed, right?...Or do I just need to file and then bring those forms?? Without needing some reply or tax transcript from the IRS??? (so hopeful right now)

I emailed a tax preparer about doing them for me and getting the tax transcripts in two weeks, and he quoted me $1550

Edited October 27, 2016 by Randy W
remove invalid picture (see edit history)

[Randy W]

 

Expedite what ?? You can fill out and mail your returns TOMORROW. Make copies, and file those with your I-864.

 

Check out the Form 4582, Substitute for Form W-2. Be sure to use the Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income "Exclusion", AND the Foreign Earned Income worksheet in your 1040 instructions, and you will most likely owe zero taxes, zero penalty, and zero Late fee.

 

Even the Form 4582 may be unnecessary, but they may lend a little sense of legitimacy to your income, since you'll identify the source.

Expedite the returns being completed and sent back to me so that I have them for our visa interview on Nov. 16. I know I can file individually with the IRS, but then I'll most likely have to wait 6 weeks for the returns to be processed, right?...Or do I just need to file and then bring those forms?? Without needing some reply or tax transcript from the IRS??? (so hopeful right now)

I emailed a tax preparer about doing them for me and getting the tax transcripts in two weeks, and he quoted me $1550

 

 

 

Again - just fill out the returns and COPY them - you're done! Oh, yeah - you can also MAIL them while you're at it. The transcripts are COMPLETELY unnecessary (we and other web sites have WAY oversold the benefit of ordering those over simply submitting copies of your return).

 

If you need a tax preparer, yes, it may take a day or two (or three), but I wouldn't expect they're very busy this time of year.

 

The purpose of the I-864 is NOT to prove that you've paid your taxes, but to DOCUMENT your income.

[Ksenia]

Having said all that (good reply, by the way), a sponsor will still be required? Not meaning to pry, just noticing that showing a mere $15K/year abroad by it self would not be sufficient to sponsor a spouse; I aplogize if you have other plans you chose not to include in the original post.

Thanks for your reply! Yes, of course we need to have a joint sponsor, which my grandpa is happy to help out with.

Since the picture in my last message didn't upload, I'll just post a copy of the email response to the same question (see above) from a tax professional, in case it could be helpful to others in the future:

 

Jay Freeborne <jfreeborne@watax.com>

To

k_nemts...

Today at 7:57 AM

Hi Ksenia

Thanks for your email below.

You would file all 4 returns to be safe (although 2012 would be maybe not necessary). (Of course not, we only need 3 years for the I-864.)

Most likely all of your income would be excluded from taxes (although there could be a Social Security tax).

Filing returns is NOT an audit. So you would do your best to compile your supporting info BUT you wouldn’t be required to submit it. (THIS is what I really wanted to know!)

WATAX would be prepare these 4 returns for you (and research your IRS record) for a flat fee of $1550.00 within your time frame. (Haha, of course you would, for $1550 > )

ACH/CC forms are attached along with form 2848 so we can research your IRS record. OK? (Thanks for that, now I'll go do it myself )

Jay Freeborne, E.A.

Washington Tax Services

2233 1st Avenue South, #202

Seattle, WA 98134

1-866-525-7302

Fax 1-206-219-6396

Solving Tax Problems for Americans in all 50 States and Around the Globe Since 1989

Tax Resolution Blog: Taxresolutiontalk.com

Updated Reviews on Washington Tax Services: Watax.com/reviews

Better Business Bureau Listing for Washington Tax: BBB listing

Edited October 27, 2016 by Ksenia (see edit history)

[Ksenia]

 

 

Expedite what ?? You can fill out and mail your returns TOMORROW. Make copies, and file those with your I-864.

 

Check out the Form 4582, Substitute for Form W-2. Be sure to use the Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income "Exclusion", AND the Foreign Earned Income worksheet in your 1040 instructions, and you will most likely owe zero taxes, zero penalty, and zero Late fee.

 

Even the Form 4582 may be unnecessary, but they may lend a little sense of legitimacy to your income, since you'll identify the source.

Expedite the returns being completed and sent back to me so that I have them for our visa interview on Nov. 16. I know I can file individually with the IRS, but then I'll most likely have to wait 6 weeks for the returns to be processed, right?...Or do I just need to file and then bring those forms?? Without needing some reply or tax transcript from the IRS??? (so hopeful right now)

I emailed a tax preparer about doing them for me and getting the tax transcripts in two weeks, and he quoted me $1550

 

 

 

Again - just fill out the returns and COPY them - you're done! Oh, yeah - you can also MAIL them while you're at it. The transcripts are COMPLETELY unnecessary (we and other web sites have WAY oversold the benefit of ordering those over simply submitting copies of your return).

 

If you need a tax preparer, yes, it may take a day or two (or three), but I wouldn't expect they're very busy this time of year.

 

The purpose of the I-864 is NOT to prove that you've paid your taxes. but to DOCUMENT your income.

 

This is like the best news I've gotten all month, thank you so much!!!!

[tsap seui]

 

 

Expedite what ?? You can fill out and mail your returns TOMORROW. Make copies, and file those with your I-864.

 

Check out the Form 4582, Substitute for Form W-2. Be sure to use the Form 2555, Foreign Earned Income "Exclusion", AND the Foreign Earned Income worksheet in your 1040 instructions, and you will most likely owe zero taxes, zero penalty, and zero Late fee.

 

Even the Form 4582 may be unnecessary, but they may lend a little sense of legitimacy to your income, since you'll identify the source.

Expedite the returns being completed and sent back to me so that I have them for our visa interview on Nov. 16. I know I can file individually with the IRS, but then I'll most likely have to wait 6 weeks for the returns to be processed, right?...Or do I just need to file and then bring those forms?? Without needing some reply or tax transcript from the IRS??? (so hopeful right now)

I emailed a tax preparer about doing them for me and getting the tax transcripts in two weeks, and he quoted me $1550

 

 

 

Again - just fill out the returns and COPY them - you're done! Oh, yeah - you can also MAIL them while you're at it. The transcripts are COMPLETELY unnecessary (we and other web sites have WAY oversold the benefit of ordering those over simply submitting copies of your return).

 

If you need a tax preparer, yes, it may take a day or two (or three), but I wouldn't expect they're very busy this time of year.

 

The purpose of the I-864 is NOT to prove that you've paid your taxes, but to DOCUMENT your income.

 

Maybe transcripts aren't needed anymore, these days, but Guangzhou didn't always just rely on whatever you made up (or not) and sent in to Guangzhou as a "copy" of your tax return to the IRS. We who followed what was being handed out as blue slips saw the increase in Guangzhou demanding PROOF of a person tax returns, and handing out blue slips asking for the transcripts. There was a damn good reason to advise getting transcripts.

 

Maybe the State Department in Guangzhou has gotten to where it no longer cares what, if anything, is sent in to them, or maybe they are imitating the higher up form of our federal government in America and just letting anyone pass their "interview" to come to the land of the $100 bills growing on trees, but there used to be a very good reason for getting transcripts...your ass was going to (potentially) be stuck in administration review for 3 to 6 months if you didn't have transcripts.

Edited October 28, 2016 by tsap seui (see edit history)

[Randy W]

I don't care to argue with you - everyone's got an opinion.

 

It is unlikely that transcripts will be asked for in this case - it's not clear that they're even claiming taxable income.

 

My advice is for them to proceed with the returns.

[tsap seui]

Slow down thar sheriff, no need for you to get a saddle burr here. A varmit like me was neither arguing with you, nor trying to tarnish your silver star.

 

You made a blanket statement about transcripts, I filled in the blanks on why we, apparently, "used" to talk about, and advise for the use of transcripts. Simple, and it wasn't even an opinion on my part, it was a well known Guangzhou fact.

 

I agree with you, in this particular petitioners situation, Ksenia ain't gonna need no stinkin' transcripts. The kind folk in Guangzhou will go straight to the co-sponsor's financial info.

 

Good luck and happy trails to you and your husband, Ksenia.

[dnoblett]

One more note about this, yes transcripts show the numbers that the IRS has on file. HOWEVER, by signing the I-864 you are swearing under oath that the numbers shown on the I-864 and whatever documents attached to the I-864 are the truth and factual, thus added proof like transcripts are unnecessary.

 

You are using a joint sponsor, and in this case the interviewing officer will be more interested in the Joint Sponsor's I-864 and evidence.

 

 

I-864 Instructions says Transcripts OR Photocopy of return.