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sreechinnu · Feb 29, 2012, 08:42 AM

Hello Everybody,

I am on H4 visa. I own Google adsense account. I have created that in India. Recently I've got a check of $170. I have added my name in joint account in BOA and I've encashed the money. I was not aware that I should not get Google adsense money on H4.

This happened last month and now I came to know that I should not make any revenues. Please anybody tell me what actions needed from side. I don't want my husband to get into any complications.. Please help me.

Thanks,
Sree.

AtlantaTaxExpert · Feb 29, 2012, 02:11 PM

Sree:

First, a REAL argument can be made that this income, though coming from Google (a U.S. company) is actually foreign-sourced income, because the account was created while you were in India before you EVER came to the United States.

Second, the amount of income involved ($170) is so small that I doubt the USCIS will CARE. They have much more important things to do than track everyone who makes a few dollars off websites from Google.

Third, legally, you DO have to report the money on your joint return. Do so on Line #21 of Form 1040 as "other income", and the IRS will be happy. They will probably NOT EVEN NOTICE that YOU earned in the income, not your husband.

However, note that, for $170, Google does not have to generated a Form 1099-MISC, and I suspect they will NOT report it, so the IRS has NO WAY of knowing the income even exists.

sreechinnu · Feb 29, 2012, 04:07 PM

Thank you very much for your quick response. By reading this, I am a bit relaxed.
One more thing is: today I got a mail from BOA stating "we have identified an issue related to your accounts that requires your immediate attention" and also they needed personal primary identification.

I don't know what they meant by.. I suspect it may be because of the check we deposited. Will it be a problem?

MukatA · Feb 29, 2012, 07:03 PM

If you are filing resident return, you must report worldwide income earned during H1-B.
You received Google Adsense payment check in USD. Normally if account is created in India, you get check in INR. Did you create the account as US resident or nonresident?