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balNgita
Level 2
April 1, 2020
Question

Questions about filing status and child credit

  • April 1, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 24 views
Hi all
1: My status: H1B visa from 2016, citizen of Nepal.
2. My wife: Citizen of Nepal, lived in the US with me until the Dec 23, 2017. Has SSN.
3. Two kids born in the US: daughter: 7-13-2016.    and son: 9-13-2017
4. Wife and kids lived in Nepal from Dec 25, 2017 to Jan 16, 2020, and returned to the US on Jan 17, 2020.
 
Questions: 
Do I file my tax return as married filing jointly or separately or single or otherwise for the tax years 2018 and 2019?
Can I claim child tax credits or other dependent credits for the given years? 
 
I supported my wife and kids 100% while they were in Nepal. My wife did not earn any money in the tax year. 
 
Thank you again
Baru

4 replies

MarilynG
MarilynG
Level 15
April 1, 2020

If you were married on 12/31/2019, you can't file as Single.

 

You can file as Married Filing Jointly and claim your wife and children, since you supported them, even though they did not live with you all year.

 

You may qualify for the Child Tax Credit for your children, but not the Earned Income Credit, as you were not the Custodial Parent. 

 

You can only file tax year 2019 right now as an Efile.

 

To file for tax year 2018, you would need to purchase and download TurboTax, then prepare and mail a 2018 tax return. 

 

Click this link for detailed  info on Rules for Claiming a Dependent. 

 

Click this link for info on How to Prepare a Prior Year Return . 

 

 

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balNgitaAuthor
Level 2
April 1, 2020

Thanks, Marylin. 

And  my wife and kid did not have the health coverage for the entire year. How do I address this? Am I going to be penalized for this?

Bal

MarilynG
MarilynG
Level 15
April 1, 2020

No, there is no longer a Penalty for not having Health Insurance.

 

TurboTax will not ask about your Health Insurance. 

 

If you did receive a 1095-A for Marketplace insurance, click this link for info on How to Enter your 1095-A . 

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
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