I Recently Moved to the US Am I Supposed To File US Returns
Are you a non-resident alien or dual-status taxpayer who has been invited to the United States on business, is temporarily (or hopefully longer) employed in the United States, or if you have become an immigrant? Regardless of the nature of your visit and how long it will last, before moving to the U.S., you need to understand the basics of filing returns more than ever. This article will discuss what foreign nationals should consider when preparing for their U.S. return.
File Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ
If you're a foreign national living in the U.S. while working, you'll likely be required to report your earnings by filing either Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ. You'll also need to file Form 8843 if you are considered a non-resident alien for tax purposes. Even though the forms are similar to their U.S. citizen counterparts, they still require additional information specific to noncitizens, and This includes visa type and expiration dates, any scholarship money earned during your stay in the U.S., and the number of days that were spent outside of the country.
Taxation for Dual-Status Taxpayers
If 2020 was a year where you changed residency status from being a nonresident alien one moment, then becoming a resident alien at another point during the tax year due to expiring visas or gaining U.S. citizenship through marriage or naturalization – then you’re most likely considered a dual-status taxpayer for 2020 and reporting may be tricky. As such, dual-status taxpayers must file two returns - one as a resident alien using Form 1040 (or Form 1040A) and one as a nonresident using Form 1040NR (or Form 1040NR-EZ). It is essential to know that each status has different tax laws applied against them so that even though income earned will remain taxable in both statuses equally, some deductions and credits may not apply uniformly over both statuses due solely to qualification differences.
Dependents Filing Status
Foreign nationals with dependents living in their household may be able to file jointly versus separately on their return depending on their marital status and whether they both qualify as resident aliens or just one spouse qualifies as such. At the same time, another remains classified as a non-resident back home. Eligible individuals must also consider any global income implications when determining which filing status best fits their needs since foreign earnings from prior years much first be declared under different treatment codes even if no taxes were paid towards those same years overseas.
Filing deadlines for Foreign Nationals Staying in The U.S.
Just because an individual owes taxes does not grant them an extended filed date, such as with other individuals due states unless specifically granted an extension approved by IRS officials taking the initiative on behalf of some instances – so individuals must make sure that returns for preceding years are filed timely prior going ahead with seeking support abroad without address obligations remaining unfulfilled aside late payment fees most likely incurring overtime post active settlement periods running out then deemed delinquent res grounds only applicable yearly threshold cycles restored respect.