The Small Business Tax Help Blog

Archive for June, 2007

Question: I’m a US citizen and an independent contractor for several non-US companies – tax help?

I’m a US citizen who has been living overseas for a very long time, working for non-US companies. I recently moved back to the States, but I still work for lots of small companies in Asia – none of my income comes from US-based businesses.

Now I’m totally confused on my taxes – it seems that independent contractors in the States must be provided with a 1099 to prove where their money is coming from. But the companies I work for aren’t beholden to those laws. They don’t have 1099s, and don’t give them out. Most of them don’t even speak English. Any pay I make is simply wire-transferred into my account, end of story.

I know I have to pay taxes on this money, but I don’t know how to file. I’m afraid I’ll get audited, as I don’t have any proof of where my income is coming from, other than my bank statement. I have neither a W2, W4 or 1099. Does anyone know how this works?

Answer: v b is right. But I'd add one additional point- make sure you haven't already paid taxes on your income from those foreign countries. If you've paid income tax to those countries, you get credits on your taxes here in the US so that you don't, effectively, pay tax on that income twice.

Good luck. :0)

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Question: how do i find my last emplyers tax id # and ein# to file my tax files?

I’VE BEEN CALLING MY LAST EMPLOYER FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS FOR A COPY OF MY W-2 FORMS EVERYONE HAS BEEN VERY RELUCTANT TO HELP ME AND NOT EVEN THE MANAGER OR HR PERSON HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY OF MY MESSAGES

Answer: by Jan 31st you have not received your W2, call the employer and ask them if they have been sent. If by Feb 15th you have not received it, call the Internal Revenue Service at 1-800-829-1040 and file a W2 complaint. They wil take a report and send you a form that you can use as a subsitute, you will need your last paycheck stub when you call, along with the name, address and phone# of the employer and what dates you worked for them

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We all know about protecting our personal identities, and credit, from thieves, but the same issues and devastating outcomes impact businesses, too.

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