Tax Tips

You are a U.S. citizen. Your wife or husband is from the Philippines, or any other country, and the green card case is still pending. There is no Social Security number yet. Many couples think they must file "married filing separately" or wait. They do not have to. The ruleThe IRS says that when one spouse is a U.S. citizen or resident and the other is not, "you can choose to treat the nonresident spouse as a U.S. resident for tax purposes." That choice lets you file one join

If you skipped a tax year and the IRS owes you money, the refund is still yours, but only for three years. After that, the Treasury keeps it. The 3-year ruleThe IRS says you must file your return to claim a refund "within 3 years of the return due date." The same limit applies to credits such as the Earned Income Credit. Tax year Return was due Last day to claim the refund 2023 April 15, 2024 April 15, 2027 2024 April 15, 2025 Mid-April 2028 2025 April 15, 2026 Mid-April 2029

Moving abroad does not end your U.S. tax filing. U.S. citizens and green card holders are taxed on their worldwide income wherever they live. Many expats end up owing little or nothing, but only if they file and claim the benefits. Your deadlines* June 15. If you live and work outside the U.S. on April 15, you get an automatic 2-month extension. Interest on any tax you owe still runs from April 15. * October 15. File Form 4868 if you need more time. Two ways to lower or erase

If you are in the United States on an F-1 or J-1 visa, you most likely have something to file with the IRS every year, even if you never earned a dollar. Form 8843: every student files itThe IRS says: "If you qualify to exclude days of presence as a student, you must file a fully-completed" Form 8843. IRS training material adds that students, scholars and their nonresident spouses and dependents, "including young children," must complete it "even if they had no income." Form

You hit a jackpot on your trip to the United States, and the casino kept 30% for the IRS before paying you. Depending on where you live and what you played, some or all of that money can come back to you. Why the casino kept 30%The IRS says "nonresident aliens are subject to a 30% tax on the gross proceeds from gambling winnings in the United States." The casino reports your win and the tax it kept on Form 1042-S. Keep that form. It is your proof. Who can get the money backRe

An ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) is a tax number the IRS gives to people who need to file a U.S. tax return but cannot get a Social Security number. Many people put it off for one reason: they do not want to mail their passport to the IRS and wait for it to come back. You do not have to mail your passportThe IRS instructions for Form W-7 give two other ways to apply. You can apply "by visiting designated IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers," or "through one of