tharun
May 22, 2014, 10:00 PM
Hi, I have question related to tax claim. My wife is on H4 and she is pursuing regular MBA and my son goes to day care. Can I or am I eligible for tax benefit? If not does converting my wife visa status to F1 save me tax.
Thanks for you help.
-Tharun
AtlantaTaxExpert
May 23, 2014, 07:10 AM
Since she is attending school on an at least HALF-TIME basis, you can caim the Child Care Credit irrespective of whether her visa status is H-4 or F-1.
Now, if she intends to do an OPT (Optional Practical Training) tour after completing the MBA, it would be worth the effort to switch her visa to F-1, because, under the F-1 visa, she is EXEMPT from FICA (Social Security and Medicare) taxes.
If she is under an H-4 visa, she has to pay the FICA taxes.