Should you file a tax return?

Фото: Depositphotos

January 23 US Tax Administration (IRS) Begins accept tax returns. The deadline for submission this year is April 18th. Do you have to file a federal tax return and pay taxes regardless of your immigration status? ForumDaily publishes official clarification The US Internal Revenue Service.

All persons resident in the United States who receive income and meet certain requirements are responsible for filing a federal tax return. The requirements for filing a federal tax return do not depend on immigration status, but are determined by income and other factors. The payment of taxes and the filing of a tax return are stipulated by law, the violation of this requirement entails civil and criminal penalties.

The law requires you to specify the taxpayer number for each person whose first and last name appear in the tax return. As a rule, a personal social security number assigned by the US Department of Social Insurance is shown in the tax return.

A taxpayer who is obliged to file a tax return, but does not meet the requirements necessary for obtaining a personal social security number, may receive an individual taxpayer number to file a tax return. The individual taxpayer number is issued by the US Internal Revenue Service and is intended only for filing a tax return.

You can prepare and file a tax return yourself, or seek the services of a professional tax preparer. If you pay someone to prepare your tax return, that person must sign your tax return. The tax return can be prepared in paper form and sent by mail or filed electronically.

General information: Should I file a tax return?

You must file a federal tax return if you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States or a permanent resident of Puerto Rico and meet the requirements for filing a tax return for any of the following categories of persons.

1. Individuals in general.
2. Dependents.
3. Certain categories of children under the age of 19 years, as well as students and students of full-time departments of universities.
4. Individuals engaged in individual labor and business activities.
5. Foreigners.

If you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, then your need for a tax return depends on the following 3 factors:

1. Your gross income
2. Your taxpayer status and
3. Your age.

Фото: Depositphotos

Social Security Numbers

You must include your social security number in the space provided for it in your tax return. Make sure your social security number on your tax return is identical to the number on your social security card. If you are married, list both your social security number and your spouse’s social security number.

If you file a tax return with your spouse (spouse), list your social security numbers in the same order as your first and last names. Follow this sequence in all other forms and documents filed with the IRS.

Change surname. If you change your last name due to marriage, divorce, etc., be sure to inform your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office before filing your tax return. Thereby you prevent a delay in the processing of your tax return and receipt of your refund. It also guarantees you further payment of pensions under the social security system.

The social security number is dependent. You must include the social security number of each dependent listed on your tax return, regardless of his or her age. This requirement applies to all dependents (and not just your children) specified in your tax return.

Include the social security number in your letters. If you are writing a letter to the US Internal Revenue Service in connection with your tax dossier, be sure to include your social security number in it (as well as your spouse’s name, surname and social security number) if you file a tax return with it (with it). )). Since your social security number is used to search for your tax dossier, it will help the US Internal Revenue Service to respond promptly to your letter.

Taxpayer Status (Filing Status)

Anyone filing a federal tax return must determine their taxpayer status. It is important to choose the correct taxpayer status for yourself, since it determines the amount of the standard deduction from your taxable base, the tax due and, ultimately, the refund due to you.

You must establish your taxpayer status before determining your tax return filing requirements applicable to you, as well as the amount of the standard deduction from your taxable base and the amount of tax due from you. You can also use your taxpayer status to determine if you are eligible for certain deductions and tax credits.

There are 5 taxpayer status options.

Family status
Your taxpayer status is determined, as a rule, by whether you are considered to be married or not.

Persons who are married. If you are considered married for the whole year, then you and your spouse can file a tax return jointly or separately.

Persons considered married. You are considered married throughout the year, if on the last day of your tax year you and your spouse meet any of the following requirements.

1. You are married and live together as husband and wife.

2. You live together in an unregistered marriage that is recognized in the state in which you live at the moment, or in the state in which you lived at the time of entering into an unregistered marriage.

3. You are married and live apart, but your separation is not formalized as such by a court decision on divorce or the maintenance of one spouse to another in the case of a separation agreement.

4. You live separately according to a preliminary (non-final) divorce decree. For purposes of filing a joint tax return, you are not considered divorced.

Single Persons (Single)
Your taxpayer status is defined as “not married” if you are single or living separately with your spouse on the last day of your tax year and this separation is legally formalized by a divorce or maintenance court decision. one of the spouses to the other in the case of a separation agreement, and you are not entitled to any other taxpayer status.

Married persons filing a tax return with their spouse (Married Filing Jointly)
You can choose the status of “Married and filing a tax return with your spouse (spouse)” as your taxpayer status if you are married and at the same time both you and your spouse (s) have agreed to file a tax return together. In the jointly submitted tax return, you indicate your total income and deduct your total eligible expenses. You can file a tax return with your spouse (spouse), even if you do not have income or tax deductions from the tax base.

Married and filed a tax return separately from the spouse (spouse) (Married Filing Separately)
You can choose the status of “Married and file a tax return separately from the spouse (spouse)” as your taxpayer status if you are married. This taxpayer status can bring you benefits if you want to be responsible only for your own taxes or if it allows you to pay taxes less than when you file a joint tax return.

If you and your spouse (s) do not agree to file a tax return together, you may have to use this status, unless you have the right to be the main breadwinner.

Main breadwinner (Head of Household)
You can file a tax return as the main breadwinner if you meet the following requirements.

1. You are not married or considered unmarried on the last day of the year.
2. You carried more than half of the cost of housekeeping during the year.
3. A person who meets certain requirements has lived with you in your home for more than six months (except for a temporary absence, for example, at school). However, if this person who meets certain requirements is your dependent parent, then this person is not obliged to live with you.

Widow (widower) with a dependent child (Qualifying Widow (er) With Dependent Child)
If your spouse has passed away in 2016, you can use the taxpayer status "Married and file a tax return with your spouse (spouse)" in 2016 if you meet all other requirements for use of this status. The year of death is the last year when you have the right to file a tax return with your deceased spouse (deceased spouse).

You can use taxpayer status “Widow (widower) with a dependent child” for 2 years after the year of death of your spouse (s). For example, if your spouse has passed away on 2015 and you have not entered into another marriage, you can use this taxpayer status in 2016 and 2017.

Фото: Depositphotos

Requirements for filing a tax return for 2016 year for most taxpayers

What types of income should be notified to the Internal Revenue Service?

You should include various types of income in your gross income and inform the IRS about them.

What types of income should be reported?

Generally speaking, gross income includes all amounts received as payment for personally rendered services. These revenues are earned income.

The person receiving the income is obliged to keep accurate records of all taxable income when it is received. Income derived from individual labor and business activity is also considered earned income.

In addition to income earned by employees, there are other types of taxable income that must be included in the tax return.

The number of income to be included in the tax return includes the following:

• Salaries and wages
• Commission
• fees
• Fringe benefits
• Tip
• Stock options
• Interest
• Dividends
• Shares in distribution in partnership
• Shares obtained in the distribution of capital gains
• Pensions
• Unemployment Benefits
• Gambling winnings
• Earned income received abroad

Should unemployment benefits be included in the tax return?

All unemployment benefits must be included in the tax return.

See also:

Acceptance of tax returns will begin on 23 January 2017 of the year

Another hobby or business: how does this affect the amount of tax?

Who must file a declaration in the USA

As a non-resident to open a business in the US: what taxes you need to pay

Five ideas for female business from Russian immigrant women

How to open a successful small business in the United States. "Russian" stories

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