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Asked 5 months ago - Lynnwood, WA
Flagthis is my first job and it's my first time filing for tax. which form do i use since I've been here 5 years already?
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"Residency" for tax purposes is different from residency for immigration purposes. Even undocumented aliens who have no legal immigration status are expected to file the federal income tax returns if they have taxable income.
Given that you have lived in the US the last five years, you use the same tax forms that US citizens and LPRs use. The main tax forms are the 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040. Which one you use depends on your facts.
You should be getting the same information returns (such as the W-2s) as other taxpayers.
Foreign nationals typically use form 1040NR, but you can check with tax professionals or a tax attorney. I believe that tax professionals charge a premium to taxpayers with a 1040NR because they are not typical and require additional work by the professional. It may be cheaper to purchase a tax return preparation software and do it yourself. However, that's a personal decision.
If you have additional questions, you can always contact a lawyer directly, whether myself or one of my colleagues. If you appreciate the time spent preparing this answer, kindly consider marking it BEST ANSWER or HELPFUL. Good luck to you.
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Dean P. Murray
The Murray Law Firm
560 Sylvan Avenue
Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
T: (201)875-2600
F: (201)549-8700
