Hi All,

I am from India. I have been in the US since 6 years on F1 currently finishing up PhD. I had e-filed 1040EZ last year.
I got married in Dec 2008 and my wife is in India. I read that I have to file jointly and attach a W7 form and a notarized copy of her passport for getting an ITIN number for my wife.

1) Do the notarized copy of passport include the visa pages too (she recently got F-2 visa)?

Two days back I got a 1042-S form with $800 income (reimbursement of my travel expenses) and about $100 in withheld taxes.

2) Can I attach the 1042-S form along with the 1040EZ and W7?

3) If Yes, do I need to add up the 1042-S income to 'income and wages' line and add up the tax to 'tax withheld'?

4) If No, should I file 1040+W7+1042-S?

Please advise...

Thank you very much,
Kumar

You can file joint return as resident.
1. Yes. It must be notarized by the U.S. embassy in India or by a notary in the U.S. You will attach W7 with your tax return. Do not file it separately. Read about F1 tax filing: Your U.S. Tax Return: The U.S. Visas

2. For 1042-S, we need more info. What is written in each box of 1042-S?

Be careful to send everything (forms, schedules, the certified copy of the passport attached to the W-7, withholding statements, etc) TO THE ITIN UNIT, not to the address required for just regular returns.

Thanks MukatA and Five Rings.

This is the information on the 1042-S form:
1 a) Income code 15 (scholarship/fellowship grants)
2 a) Gross income 800
3 a) Withholding allowances 38.0
4) a) NEt Income 762.00
5) a) Tax rate 14%
6) a) Exemption code 00
7) a) Us federal tax withheld (107.00)
7) Total withholding 107.00
13) b) Recipient code 01
16) Country code IN

Can I still file this with 1040EZ?

I am also confused as to what is withholding allowance and tax withheld.
Usually gross income is net income + tax withheld on my paycheck but here it is netincome+withholding allowance.

Hi MukatA,

Can you please advise me about the 1042-S? Sorry to ask again thought that this was forgotten.

Thanks,
Kumar

You received $800 for scholarship or fellowship. It will be reported on line 13 of Form 1040NR. If it is tax free, then you will again report it on line 30 of the form.

If you are a degree candidate and if the financial aid (includes scholarship and fellowship) is for tuition fee, other fees, books, supplies and equipment, then it is not taxable. Read scholarship and fellowship grants, Your U.S. Tax Return: The U.S. Income Tax Topics 1
I have read your post again. You said that it is for reimbursement of travel expenses. So it is taxable and you will not report any amount on line 30.

Thank you MukatA. This answered part of my question. The link you sent was very helpful.

Since I am filing 1040EZ, I have to report it on line 1 (income, wages and tips) as "SCH".

My other question was:
Why is my gross income on the 1042-S (net income + withholding allowances) instead of (net income + tax withheld).

Any insight?

I have a technical question for you MukatA.

I am a certfying acceptance agent and it has always been my understanding that the issuing agency of acceptable documents may certify the document as per the W-7 instructions:
"You can submit copies of original documents if you do any of the following.
Have the copies certified by the issuing agency or official custodian of the original record"

Have you experience with documents thus submitted being rejected by the ITIN Unit?