Hey jlynn, I have a question with DH and I filing BK 7 Jan 5 when we do our tax returns in Feb most likley are they going to snag them? Can we exempt them at all? We should get in the range from 3-4K back...according to the previous years anyway. Can I do them online as I normally do or should we take them somewhere? I just thought you might know since you have extensive research in Texas, and have such dreat advice..Thanks
if i were you - and i know your question was directed at jlynn - i would wait until after your discharged. if they find out you received funds between filing and discharge, they may dismiss your case.
I will accept any advice But I really need to file Jan 5 cause my bills are already late and well they are calling and piling up we have put it off for 3 weeks now, so I need to do it then, I am not necessarily worried about them taking them that is the consequence I guess for being careless with my money and bills and not being able to have steady income but that is besides the point, I just need to plan accordingly I would love to be able to pay a secured loan off that I have that I can not include in the BK, when we talked to the attny's assistant she said that we might be able to keep it if it is less then 2K, but what exactly does that mean if we are over are they taking the whole thing? So we got 4200 last year and we bought a home, this year, but there was an issue with taxes, I was overseas for 1/2 the years was gov't contract position didn't pay fed. taxes I was exempt but I came back to the states so I can not file a form 2555 again this year for exeption, don't know how much I will pay I earned like 10-12K but will have to pay fed. taxes on it. So not sure how that will effect us. Just trying to have things planned as much as I can.
You were expat for 1/2 of 2003? or 2002? If you were expat for 2002, and 1/2 of 2003, and you were residing there non-stop, you should be able to file a 2555 and figure your deduction on days spent there vs. the max deduction. I think its up to 75K now....been a couple of years since we could file that way. Need more info, and you may need an accountant I have a great one in Houston, you can do it by mail.
Oh yea, and if these bills piling up are the stuff you are including in BK don't pay them. Edit - probably shouldn't be paying them. You should be taking care of your living expenses first. If they are hounding you on the phone get an answering machine/caller id/change your number for now.
You can delay your filing until October - I've done it often. As long as you don't OWE money, you can get an extension until (I think) August and then October. I agree w/Jlynn about paying essentials only. Also, let 'em know you're filing as soon as you retain an attorney. It's so sweet & simple - "Please speak to my attorney, Mr. Hammerhead at Doo, We, Cheatem and How, and don't call me again."
Well we were there all of 2002 and half of 2003 we left or I left work in May left the island in June. So I am not sure how that would work only being there the half of year according to my previous years of filing, but I am not an accountant I had to be physically present in the country for no less then 335 days or something like that. So not sure. Would you think using an H&R Block be sufficient? Maybe turbo-tax online? Or should I get a real accountant this year? I can not wait until Oct. to file, if the courts found out I ws being sneaky I don't want to take the chance of getting dismissed ya know. No I am not paying the bills in the BK, so that is helping and we are moving on base the end of the month, what should I do with the keys do you think? Garage door opener etc. If we sell the fridge is the attny going to use that an asset, only could get like 3-400 for it. New here they were on sale for like 600. Don't really have any other assets. We have an attny we are using because we have already had our free consultation, I think it is weird we do not need to bring all of our stuff in again for them to prepare before filing. I told them I wanted to file Jan 5 and they said just to bring it with me again. So we will see.
Re: Re: jlynn...question A good accountant can get you the 2555 under the physical presence test. I believe they can "back count" the days. Its tricky. Talk to H & R and if they say no, call a good tax accountant. Turbo tax and the like probably won't be able to get it to work out correctly for you.
