First-time Tax Filing for New Green Card Holder - 2024

[FortuneCookies]

Hi Tax experts,

Please help with the filing for my relative.

My family member came here first time as green card resident in Nov 2024 the  but was still on foreign country payroll.

She got the SSN in Jan 2025.

She went back since Jan 2025 to continue to work overseas.

I am assuming she is still required to file tax between Nov-Dec2024. Does she need to enter her SSN since her SSN wasn't assigned until Jan 2025?

She is not making a lot (general clerical job). Does it make sense to file for the lasts 2 months in 2024 or use dual-status filing?

What should I enter her permanent address? She stayed here in Nov-Dec during the tax year 2024.

With her situation, can I use my TT Premier to file her tax?

[Vanessa A]

Yes, she will need to file a form 1040 that includes her income from worldwide for Nov and Dec 2024 or whichever date she arrived through the end of the year. 

Yes, she will use her SSN as this  number has now replaced the ITIN so anytime she does anything that needs a SSN or ITIN, she will use the SSN. 

She would be a dual status alien since she didn't get her green card and arrive in the US until November and then left the country in January.  She is not able to take the standard deduction so even if she doesn't make a lot, there would not be a minimum filing threshold as her only deductions would be itemized deductions and they would need to be listed in order to use them. 

Her permanent address will be wherever she permanently lives and where the IRS can contact her or send her mail. 

You can use TurboTax Premier to file her Resident Return, 

Also, depending on which state she lived in while here, she may need to file a return for that state. 

[FortuneCookies]

@Vanessa A,

Thanks for your reply.

Does she need to include her income evidence from her employer in Hong Kong. Their tax year begins on 1 April of a year and ends on 31 March of the following year.

I believe any income earned via the Hong Kong retirement system is required to report as taxable income. Is this correct?

In the IRS site it stated "Write "Dual-Status Return" across the top of the return".  It means that she can't use efiling and will need to print and include all paper statement, e.g. pay slip, bank interest for filing in mail?

Do you know if the existing Turbo Tax Live support (and which option) can support this type of filing? I have checked via the TT site and there is not enough information to confirm it.

[SusanY1]

Support for the foreign income is not required to be attached to the tax return, but should be retained for at least 3 years in case of any inquiry.  This isn't common, but it is best to be prepared.  

Earned and retirement income from Hong Kong should both be reported, you are correct. 

TurboTax Live does not offer support for dual-status returns.