tax usa-irs

danielle1977

Not sure where to post this one.

Between 1995-2000 I lived in the USA (I was 16 -21), I worked part-time. Extra tax was taken but I never got it back-never claimed it at the time as I didn't have a work visa (I was on my parents E1 visa and no one ever questioned if I was legally allowed to work). Is there any way I can claim it back?

BlueAngelCV

So were you working illegally? If so then I would say no!

danielle1977

hey I'm sure if it was someone working ilegally over here then the gov would be quite happy to give overpaid tax back-they seem quite happy to pay illegal immigrants benefits etc!

It was just a thought

thorsoak

Well, you can always try claiming it back ...however if it transpires that you were working illegally and by reclaiming, you bring this fact to the notice of the authorities, it might be detrimental to any future work in the USA - would the reclaim be worth it??

Britwife

You may not have been working illegally. This is a specialty visa and the main applicant has special rules to follow but the spouse and other dependents could work if work permits were applied for and granted. Ask your parents if they still have the documents. If you didn't have a work permit then yes, it would be considered illegal. If you did have a permit then you can claim the back taxes but would need to seek out help for it through a professional and you would need all your documents from immigration and all your paystubs and other work forms you would have received.

danielle1977

hmm good point-not that i plan on going back there. They knew I over stayed my visa, I came back to england for a bit then went back no problems.

I can't remember my social security number either so that might make it harder, there is probably a time limit to do it too. Will have a search thru my credit cards to see if I can claim anything back-but I think thats all been done, I have claim with southern pacific but nothings ever happened with that one. Will have to find some stuff to sell!

danielle1977

Brit wife-pay stubs got lost somewhere along the way and hiring someone sounds expensive for the sake a a couple of hundred dollars! Off to hunt for ebay stuff.

danielle1977

Brit wife-how come theres no 'thanks' button under your post?
have now refreshed my browser and it s there

Thanks

Hobo17

We've had a quote of $250 to prepare our tax return for this year. So i think any professional advice might outweigh the amount you are due to get...

Also to highlight to the authorities that you were working illegally might harm your chances of being able to use the visa waiver in the future. My husband had overstayed in the US previously and was applying for a work visa so had to declare the overstay. The visa was granted but the immigration official at the embassy warned that if he had worked during the time he overstayed it would have been an entirely different story and they would not have approved the work visa. Having said that if you were under 18 when you overstayed I don't believe that you accrue illegal presence in the same way as if you were an adult, so this may be different in your situation.

Britwife

If you still have your social security card, it probably says not for employment but if it doesn't and I'm thinking yours doesn't then you were working completely legally. The reason I'm thinking that is because you have to produce a SS card for every job you work at (unless they only hire illegals, you would know in the states because most are Mexican). If your card said not for employment then your employer would have needed to see a work permit of some sort. If he's a legit business, he gets tax right offs for employees so it would benefit him as well, plus the fact that you got pay stubs and was paying tax shows that as well.

If you don't have most of your documents though, it would be a waste of time and would cost a great deal of money. It sounds as though you have done everything the right way and even notified the US govt about overstaying and have already seen that your honesty paid off by being allowed back in.

Hobo17, if your taxes are straight forward you should be able to download HR Block's software and do your own. It's great software and you could email them to see if it would be good for your situation. Think it costs about 40 bucks.

Wirenth

It depends. I'm over here on an E1 visa, like many of my colleagues. But if their wives and families wish to find employment, they have to apply for a yearly permit as well. Do you know if you ever had this permit? If not, you were most likely working illegally.