I am a foreign with a spouse visa. I work as a freelance and filing tax in my own country but yet I received 1099. What do I do?

[LinaJ2018]

What visa do you have? How long do you stay in the US in 2016, 2017 and 2018?

[amy6355]

I have a spouse visa and a green card. Yet my career is based in Japan. 2016, none. 2017 and 2018 around 5 months all together.

[amy6355]

My boss told me to ignore 1099 and file it in my country but I wanted to make sure. I don’t want to break any laws.

[amy6355]

Okay but as for foreign income and this income, I already filed in my country. I didn’t move my nationality to the US that’s why. Do I still need to file everything all over again?

[LinaJ2018]

I added more information to my answer.  As a green card holder, you need to file a US tax return.  You can apply the foreign earned income exclusion or tax credit on your US return.

[LinaJ2018 · Accepted solution]

Since you have a green card, you are considered as a US resident who is required to file Form 1040 to report worldwide income just like other US citizens if meet the filing requirements.  In addition, if you have been present and worked overseas, you might be able to claim a foreign income exclusion by filing a Form 2555.  To qualify, you have to live outside the United States for at least 330 days during 12 consecutive months.  For more information, please see Foreign income and exclusion and Extension.  For the tax year of 2019, the maximum foreign earned income exclusion amount is $105,900.  If you have earned an income more than $105,900 and if you pay taxes to both the foreign country and the US, you may claim a foreign tax credit on Form 1116 on your US taxes.

As a freelancer, the IRS considers you as a self-employed taxpayer.  You would need to file a Schedule C and pay self-employment taxes if you make more than $400 US dollars for that job.  If you have other worldwide income besides this job, you would need to report them on your Form 1040 if meet the filing requirements.  

To see filing requirements, click here: https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/filing-and-paying-taxes/help/do-i-need-to-file-a-federal-return-th...