Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help!
Ask    ||    Answer
 
Advanced  
 

Ask QuestionsprogressAnswer QuestionsprogressBuild ReputationprogressBecome an Expert
 
Free Answers in 3 Easy Steps

Register Now
3 Steps

At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you will be able to:
  • Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+ topics.
  • Accept money for answers that you provide.
  • Communicate privately with other members (PM).
  • See fewer ads.

Home > Money & Services > Taxes   »   Shall I apply for First Year Choice or Dual status ?

 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Question
 
 
#1  
Old Jan 8, 2009, 03:25 PM
jaswani
New Member
jaswani is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
jaswani See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Shall I apply for First Year Choice or Dual status ?

I am on L1 visa holder & staying in US from november 1 2007. My wife have L2 visa. We both have SSN Number. I did not file my 2007 tax return. I stay for whole 2007(61 days from November 1 to december 31) & 2008. I want to file 2007 tax return now.

1. Which form I should use :-

1040NR as non-resident.

First Year Choice(1040 with Statement required to make the first-year choice). I think I am eligible for that becuse I was in US more than 31 days in a row and present in the United States for at least 75%(my calulation is 100%) of the number of days beginning with the first day of the 31-day period and ending with the last day of 2007.

I call IRS they say I have to File Dual status.


Any help will be great.

Reply With Quote
 
     

Answers
 
 
Old Jan 9, 2009, 12:38 AM   #2  
Tax Expert
MukatA is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 4,640
MukatA See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
1. For 2007, under First Year Choice you can file joint return as residents. You must declare your worldwide income for 2007.

2. You can also claim Moving Expenses (moving from India to the U.S.). Read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Moving Expenses

3. May be IRS said because you never told them that you are married.

Comments on this post
jaswani agrees: very helpful
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 12, 2009, 11:35 AM   #3  
Senior Tax Expert
AtlantaTaxExpert is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 13,322
AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Agreed; filing as a resident alien under First Year Choice REQUIRES that you be married.

Comments on this post
jaswani agrees: good answer
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 13, 2009, 04:34 PM   #4  
New Member
jaswani is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
jaswani See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
I really apreciate both of you for your answers. I called IRS regarding Global income & did not get the proper answer. They are not sure when making First Year Choice I need to declare my global income.

1. One rep. told use the other income column in Form 1040 to declare Foreign Income.
2. Other rep. told add it to your wages on line 7 of 1040.
3. Other rep. you need to only show your global income from the day you entered in US.(not the whole year).
4. Other rep. told write dual status on FYC statement.
5. there is another confusion where I need to send the form(Living in WA). IRS website state if filling 1040 send it to California. If filing 1040-NR or 1040 NR-EZ send it to Texas.


I really apreciate if you guys help me.

Thanks
Jagdish
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 13, 2009, 09:13 PM   #5  
Tax Expert
MukatA is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: CA
Posts: 4,640
MukatA See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
You should contact AtlantaTaxExpert at [email address] for professional help to do your tax return.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 14, 2009, 03:41 PM   #6  
Senior Tax Expert
AtlantaTaxExpert is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 13,322
AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
I would welcome your business, but Item #2 (put your foreign wages on Line #7) is the correct answer.

And since you are filing jointly under First Year Choice, you need to send the return to the IRS Center at Austin, Texas.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 15, 2009, 12:31 PM   #7  
New Member
jaswani is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4
jaswani See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
Thanks once again for all your help.
1. Should I show the whole year(Janauary 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007) global income or only the period when I was present(November 1 2007 to December 31,2007) in US.

2. What would be the conversion rate as I earned my wages in Indian currency.

Thanks in advance.
Jagdish Aswani.
  Reply With Quote
 
     
 
 
Old Jan 15, 2009, 01:00 PM   #8  
Senior Tax Expert
AtlantaTaxExpert is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Posts: 13,322
AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.AtlantaTaxExpert See this member's comment history on his/her Profile page.
1) ALL world-wide income for the ENTIRE year of 2007.

2) You can use an average conversion rate for the entire year, or the conversion rate for each day you actually got paid. You just need to be consistent on how you do it.
  Reply With Quote
 
     

Your Answer
Email me when someone replies to my answer
Join Login





Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

 
Similar Sponsors


Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Show Printable Version
Email this Page Email this Page

Similar Threads
1 year choice and Dual status
(5 replies)
L1B and L2, first year choice, dual-status
(1 replies)
Do i have to be Dual Status Alien to use First Year Choice?
(2 replies)
H1B and H4, first year choice, dual-status
(2 replies)
Dual Status or First Year Choice?
(1 replies)

Search this Thread

Advanced Search

Bookmarks

Sponsors



Copyright ©2003 - 2009, Ask Me Help Desk.
All times are GMT -8. The time now is 10:02 PM.