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    abhi1277's Avatar
    abhi1277 Posts: 22, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Feb 4, 2007, 10:38 AM
    h4 expenses
    Hi,
    I am on h1 visa,from india,been in US since '04.I got married last year and my wife has been in US since sept 2006.I will be filing as "married filing jointly" with 1040EZ,W7 and my wife's notarized passport copy.I wanted to know if I can claim my wife's(and mine-if possible)travel (air ticket)from india-US(last year -aug-sept)?if so,what additional forms apart from 1040EZ do I have to fill?. thank you.
    AtlantaTaxExpert's Avatar
    AtlantaTaxExpert Posts: 21,836, Reputation: 846
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    #2

    Feb 4, 2007, 01:11 PM
    You can claim your wife's ticket as a valid moving expense. However, you cannot claim your ticket.

    If you claim moving expense, you must file Form 1040, woth Form 3903 for the moving expense.

    If you need my professional tax help, contact me at [email protected].
    taxsearcher's Avatar
    taxsearcher Posts: 222, Reputation: 8
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    #3

    Feb 4, 2007, 01:13 PM
    I'm not so sure you can claim your wife's ticket. It sounds like she is not here working, is that correct?
    AtlantaTaxExpert's Avatar
    AtlantaTaxExpert Posts: 21,836, Reputation: 846
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    #4

    Feb 4, 2007, 01:27 PM
    She is not working, but it has been my experience that the IRS accepts reasonable moving expenses for family as valid moving expenses.

    He is moving his wife less than two years after getting the job.

    That is not outside the realm of reasonability.
    taxsearcher's Avatar
    taxsearcher Posts: 222, Reputation: 8
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    #5

    Feb 4, 2007, 02:20 PM
    For moving expenses of family members to qualify, they must be members of your household prior to the move and members of your household after the move.

    In her case, she appears not to have been a member of the household when the taxpayer moved (18 months earlier) for employment. Hence, she does not appear to fall within the taxpayer's move.
    AtlantaTaxExpert's Avatar
    AtlantaTaxExpert Posts: 21,836, Reputation: 846
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    #6

    Feb 4, 2007, 03:24 PM
    TaxSearcher:

    Good point. I concede on this issue.

    Abhi:

    Sorry, TaxSearcher is right. Your wife was NOT your wife when you started the job, so her move to the U.S. is NOT deductible, either as a moving expense or as en employee business expense.
    abhi1277's Avatar
    abhi1277 Posts: 22, Reputation: 1
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    #7

    Feb 4, 2007, 07:08 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by AtlantaTaxExpert
    TaxSearcher:

    Good point. I concede on this issue.

    Abhi:

    Sorry, TaxSearcher is right. Your wife was NOT your wife when you started the job, so her move to the U.S. is NOT deductible, either as a moving expense or as en employee business expense.
    Thanks to both of you for answering the question... I remember seeing on this forum a similar situation where the husband was told that he could claim his wife's airfare from india -U.S.I married only last sept.which was 14 months after I started my job,so I guess my wife's moving expense would not be deductible.thanks again.
    AtlantaTaxExpert's Avatar
    AtlantaTaxExpert Posts: 21,836, Reputation: 846
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    #8

    Feb 4, 2007, 08:29 PM
    You did see such a posting.

    I posted it, and I was wrong!
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