Tax Questions Please help?

Question

I turned 18 Jan 12th of 2007. Last June I graduate a year early from high school and got married. I then moved to Pittsburgh and got a job at target. I worked for a telemarketing company in illinois. So I have to figure out how to file my taxes. I was a resident of illinois til June then moved to Pittsburgh in mid June then moved beck to Illinois in November. I held a job in PA so I have to file taxes in Illinois and in PA. Plus half of the year I was a dependent of my mother. and the other half I was married. I have never filed taxes so I am completely lost and have to get this done soon. Please help anyone who knows what they are doing....

Yes my husband and i will be filing jointly and we both lived in both states but I was the only one who worked in pittsburgh.

My mom is claiming me as a dependent Jan-June 6
I can only claim to be my own June 6 thru Dec. 31 that is what a local CPA told me. The Cpa I asked is the lady who has always done my mothers taxes for years

Answer 1

Since you were married as of the last day of the year, your filing status is "married filing joint."

You would probably be able to file a Form 1040-EZ if you have no dependents.

For PA, you would file Form PA-40 and mark "final return" under filing status, since you permanently moved out of PA. You would report all income earned while you lived in PA. Here is the form with instructions.
http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/lib/revenue/2006_pa-40.pdf
http://www.revenue.state.pa.us/revenue/lib/revenue/2006_pa-40_book.pdf

You would also file a joint tax return in IL as residents. You will need to file Form IL-1040. As residents, you must report ALL income from all sources. Since you already paid tax to PA for your wages earned there, you will need to file Schedule CR to receive a credit on your IL tax return for taxes paid to other states (PA). You can find both forms here:

http://www.revenue.state.il.us/TaxForms/Incm2006/ind/index.htm

Answer 2

First of all, you may apply for extensions, automatically good until October 15, 2007, by filing IRS form 4868 and whatever the Illinois and Pennsylvania equivalents are. Try their revenue department web sites. Second, you need the form and instructions for part year resident forms. Those forms allocate the income and tax withheld between the states. You probably can do it yourself, but don't be frustrated if you find the complexity of having to file in two states for part years to be too much for a first time filer. Does your spouse have earnings? Will you be filing jointly? Was he a resident of both states as well? Just some additional considerations. I have never used a paid tax preparer, but I do use turbotax now.

Answer 3

Unfortunately you may have to file returns for both states.

Look up the tax information for each state (google Illinois and taxes and you should probably get a website). There should be information for filling out the state's equivalent to a 1040 form. Look up 1) the minimum income threshold you need to pay taxes, and also 2) the residency requirements (for example PA might not require you to pay taxes if you stayed in the state for only half a year. You should only owe taxes on whatever income you earned in each state, but again its best to double check.

If you're really stuck, you can always consult HR Block/Jackson Hewitt etc.

Answer 4

Please consult a CPA in Illinois. Pay him his minimum fee, usually $ 250.

What you need to do is a Part-Year Resident Return in both states. The allocation between the two states is a bit convaluted due to your moving
around. The CPA needs to "pro-rate" the allocation - it can be a little complicated.

The other issue of you being claimed as a dependent of another one year
and married the next is not complicated. Its rather basic.

Do not go to a tax service firm like HR B----k or whomever, seek out a CPA,
a sole proprietor, to do your taxes.

Hopefully next year, you'll stay put in one place, and then you can do your taxes on your own. At that time, I would highly suggest you use Turbo Tax.

Best Wishes.

Answer 5

Your mother can't claim you as you are married now and not a dependant of her anymore your on your own. You must file as married filing jointly and you will be doing a part year return. Your local Liberty Tax will be more than happy to assist you or answer any questions that you might have.Also, in our taxwise program we have a help file option for looking up county codes and school district #'s that you more than likely will need for the states. If you call they can look them up for you.