Sorry, last minute tax questions……….?
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Background
First time submitting US tax return!
International student on F1 opt, earned just above the minimum amount for a tax return so you would think it would be easy…….wrong!
Well I manged to prepare 8417, 8843,1040NR EZ and another couple I need to do because of my status.
I am now wading through the schedule A for health and job related expenses but my questions after all this long winded info is on the schedule A are
The monthly payments I pay for health care, is this claimable on the schedule A or is it for expenses you have had for medical care?
And under job related expenses – education, professional bodies, unions etc, is this where you would list expenses like licenses, insurance and equipment you have had to buy if operating as an independent contractor?
Also do I have to fill out another form for mileage and tolls allowance, I know it is 55cents in the dollar right?
It’s kind of difficult for me to get into a pro to get this done and the online sites and software program I have wasted hours on recenly didn’t cover all my circumstances and the forms I had to use because of my status.
I would be very grateful for just a nod in the right direction about where I can claim things I have had to buy to do my job and then I am just going to send it with fingers crossed.
And the whole ironic thing is I spent more than I earned
Thanks.
July 28th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Your OPT was supposed to be supervised–thus it’s a W-2 situation.
As for unreimbursed business expenses, mileage for commuting is not deductible.
You should not have had much in the way of licenses, insurance and equipment. The equipment has to be depreciated and then the total is subject to the 2% rule. (You generally cannot deduct your computer or cell phone.)
You had better have extremely detailed records as the IRS will ask to see them. Students generally don’t have enough to itemize.
As for form 8417, there isn’t one. If you meant 8917, you are NOT eligible for this form. You also are not eligible for the 8863.
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July 28th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Pitch the Schedule A. You can’t use it. The only itemized deduction that you are allowed is the state and local income taxes that you paid in 2009. That’s what goes on line 11 of Form 1040-NR-EZ. None of the other Schedule A deductions apply to non-resident aliens.
No idea what 8417 is. Never heard of that one and it’s not on the IRS website.
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July 28th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8843.pdf
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