The IRS Audit Blog

Archive for May, 2009

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Question: Questions about US tax return for form 1040NR-EZ?

I am currently filling out my tax return for 2007 (I know I’m late!). I spent 3 months in the USA on a J1 visa and earned very little money, but would like to get a refund of the taxes that were withheld.

My earnings were (roughly speaking) 2900 and the exemption deduction in line 13 seems to be $3500. This leaves me with a negative taxable income in line 14. I presume I put this down as 0?

Also, does this mean I get a refund of all federal taxes paid?

Finally, I plan on sending the following forms
1040NR-EZ
8843
W2
Copies of passport, visa etc

Is this all I need to send to the IRS?

Thanks in advance!

Answer: Passport and visa are not required.
1040NR-EZ, 8843 and W2 are it.

For 1040NR-EZ:
line 3 = $2900
line 10 = 2900
line 12 = 2900
line 13 = 3400 (<--be sure you use the 2007 form!)
line 14 = 0
line 15 = 0
line 17 = 0
line 18 = box 2 of the W-2. (If this is zero, you don't need to file anything other than the 8843.)
line 21, 22 same as 18.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f1040nre--2007.pdf

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f8843--2007.pdf

PS: AUSTIN, not Philadelphia processes NR returns. This changed a few years ago.

Mission 22q: A quest to help other parents

Mike and Anne Stalker of Lincoln anxiously expect the birth oftheir 501(c)(3), due to arrive in February.

New IRS EZ Tax Form

UBS Client Who Hid $6.1 Million From IRS Avoids Jail (Update1)

Jan. 7 (Bloomberg) — A New Jersey businessman who admitted using a UBS AG account to hide $6.1 million from U.S. tax authorities was sentenced to five years probation by a judge who credited his cooperation with prosecutors.

Attorney Jobs in Fort Lauderdale

Question: Does an IRS audit ever begin with a phone call? Or is this a scam?

A friend of mine recently received a phone call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent and told her that they wanted to audit her business. My friend did not give her any personal information, but they did set up an appointment to meet at the place of business next month.

As I understand it, all IRS audits begin with a letter, correct?

I feel quite sure that this is a scammer, but I wanted to be sure.
I would love to hear an answer from someone who is familiar with the IRS auditing procedures.
Yikes123: that’s exactly what she’s doing at this minute. I told her to invite the IRS to come and meet their new “agent” at the scheduled appointment. Hopefully another scammer will be shut down.
After a call to the IRS in D.C., it turns out that this IS an auditor, and she is being audited.

The phone call came one day after she criticized the prez on facebook. She’s the 4th person I know of to be audited shortly after criticizing Obama. Seems very strange.

Answer: I’m also not familiar with the process, but kudos to you and your friend for being intelligent enough to consider that this may be a scam. If I was you (or her), I’d go to the IRS website, get a phone number, and give them a call to see. Certainly the IRS would be able to tell her if they actually called her or not. And if it was not the IRS who called her, I’m sure they’d be very interested in tracking down the person who did.

Sacramento-area developer Nehemiah Corp. pushes the nonprofit envelope

Nehemiah Corp. of America may be a nonprofit organization with roots in south Sacramento’s Antioch Progressive Baptist Church, but it operates more like a business than a typical charity.

WAKE UP AMERICANS – YOU DONT HAVE TO PAY INCOME TAX – IT’S A FRAUD 2/2

Question: IRS forms for previous years?

I need a 1040EZ form for 2005. I didn’t file that year. The refund was minimal and I didn’t think it was worth the time.

I need it now and the deadline to file is in April. Is there any way to request the forms online? I’d rather not sit on hold for a couple hours….
If I take my return to H&R block or some other service, can they e-file it for me, or will they use the postal mail?

Answer: You should probably go ahead and get it out of the way. If not, it can come back to bite you. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to file your 2005 taxes — you can basically fill out a website form, and then print it up. So it’s essentially e-file plus the cost of a postage stamp.

Briefs – Dec. 30

Senior Meal every third Sunday at Clarinda Regional Health Center

IRS Fraud: There Is No Law That Requires You To File A 1040!

Question: Has anyone ever calculated the odds of being audited by the IRS?

Answer: The IRS uses a secret formula called a DIF score to select returns for audit. Certain features of a return will increase you chances of audit. Having income over $100,000 especially if you also have a side business that lost money. Owning a Sub-S corp. Showing a low income but having lifestyle requiring a higher income. Publicly revealing your true income can get you audited. Like having your name in the paper bragging how you make $5,000 per week in the latest MLM direct sales program while showing only $20,000 on your tax return for the whole year.

Nurse Outduels IRS Over M.B.A. Tuition

A Maryland nurse defended herself against the IRS’s lawyers and won — getting a ruling to deduct the cost of an M.B.A. degree.

Taxes: Odds of an Audit