[muthumani]

Hi
I came to US , CA on beginning of Nov 2007, in L1 Visa. My wife has also come along in L2 Visa , I need help in filing the tax return as I heard there is tax benefit available for married . Tell me what could be done

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

You can file jointly with your wife and you both CHOSE to be treated as resident aliens. This will allow you to claim the $10,700 joint standard deduction plus two $3,400 personal exemption (for yourself and your wife).

The downside is that:

• you must WAIT to meet the Substantial Test before you can file, which means you must wait until mid-June 2008.

• you must declare ALL 2007 world-wide income. There are two offsets available, by either claiming a Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) or a Foreign Income Exclusion (Form 2555).

Even with the downside, this is probably the best way for you to file.