It is law that you need to file your Tax return every year. ( If you are due more then 3 years ... you are violating the law and you can be in trouble any time).

IRS can hold you bank account , can take out from ur homes and put u in jail.

We need to get maximum returns. So what items can help us get max tax return.

Get Max return :

1 > if you have send money to Nepal .... u can use that as mortgage payment
2 > Relocation expense can be one
3> If you have worked in 1099 then you can add all your expense here (this will also help you)
4> put x amount for your college expense

What else ?

do u include college expanse in 1040a form  even if u have a financial aid?

Yes you can up to 2000-4000$ ( I need to double check the exact amount )

how do u do ur tax file? also do u know any good software besides turbo tax that helps maximize the returns? 

IRS has bunch of free website. Just go to IRS.gov

Betternepal.

Nepal pathayako paisa pani exp. dekhauna paincha ra??? pls advice

hey better nepal

This if from my experience
u should file 1040 R ( do not file 1040NR) .

first use trubo tax and see what return u get. ( if u adding so many deduction then i would say go to some cheap tax filling person/company )

As of now I see u can get ur eduction deduction only. If you have send money to ur home then add that too.  (rest I am not sure what u can add ).

In some states u can use ur rent also, the apartment complex or land lord must give u some form like W2 and u can use that too.

from this year I would suggest work partially in W2 and partially in 1099 (working in 1099 u add ur expense but make sure u have record of all ur expense ) will get u high returns.

I am surprised that BetterNepal is providing crappy tax advice here without even knowing what he is talking about.

Students who are in F1 status should file form 1040NR-EZ without exception. After staying full 5 years in the United States, you can file as a resident (form 1040) for tax purpose. If you are a permanent resident you can use 1040 (there is first year different rule).

There are so many other flaws on BetterNepal's advice but I do not have that much time to go over each of them.

 

Manhattan Institute forecast  tax rates for 2011 would by default, revert to the former structure where the maximum rate was 55%....punishing for working hard wanna be , practising thrift culture, and abode to save inheritance for  future generations especialy among the riches.....EXEMTED if you are ain`t was..

i agree on betternepal .

Elixir, are you sure its 5 years? I believe its 3 years.

Anyways, its that time of the year again isn't it? I reckon I'll have to pay this time, instead of receiving a refund.

Does anybody know if I could use my tuition that I paid for my senior year ( I graduated in May ) as a deduction?

Quagmire,

Yes; 5 years is for those who are otherwise in non-immigrant visa such as F1. After being here in the US for 5 years, you can treat yourself as resident for tax purpose. However, if you transfer your visa to H1, then your residency count starts from day 1. In that case, there is a first year election rule. Anyone interested can go through publication 519 and determine how they should file their tax return.

As far as my understanding about your visa status being permanent resident, you can get upto $2500 (non-refundable - only reduces your tax liability) Hope Credit (or American Opportunity Credit - named just for this year) for the qualified tuition, fees and course materials. However, how much you can deduct depends upon your income and how much tax you owe and things. 40% of the credit is refundable (you get tax refund even if you do not owe tax). You can certainly get credit for the tuition you paid but I can not tell you how much you get without looking at your other details.

If you look for rule then it say F1 student are not considered as resident at any point while they are in F1 status .(When I was student I was suggested to file Resident and my friend himself filed for NR, which get got query for IRS and I did not get. and I did not get any query.. I am not telling that is right just an example )

If you are in US for more then 3 month (1xx days) per year then u need to file a resident and if live in usa for less then 3 month then u can file as a non resident. (are you aware of that rule ). I can send u the doc.

I guess u are not allowed to file 1040 while u are in F-1. 

BetterNepal,  I do not want to question your intention to try to help fellow Nepalese. Based on your writing, however, you are not helping them. I can tell you that you do not know tax laws. You really need to study first and post as a pro.

You do not have to send me the document because I know the document that one needs to read for that which is IRS Publication 519. I have also written that in my previous posting. If you are reading some other document that is not from IRS, I do not have to say anything. Even F1 students are treated as resident after 5 years for tax purposes. You gotta read the relevant and related document.

Gotexasgo - is correct in that if you do not have any income as a F1 student, you fill out form 8843. If you have income, you have to file 1040 NR-EZ even if you are married or have childred.

Elixir;

summary from my comments:

nepali kanchoo works oncampus then  he needs to file 1040 NR ( If I was nepali kanchoo then I would file 1040)

Do you agree ?


What else I mentioned is crap ???????

I have a simple question. If a person "A"  came in US on Dec 19, 2009 for the first time. He stayed total of 12days in US during 2009. He did not have any income in 2009. Does he require to file tax for 2009? I'd appreciate your answer.

Sajhamember:

I don't think person "A" needs to file anything in your example. But refer to form 8843, 3rd page general instructions. I think one needs to file 8843 if you resided longer than 31 days in 2009. here is the link

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf