Tax Day is April 15th!

Photo Credit: McEnearney.com

The annual deadline for submitting tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is April 15th, 2021.

Most people who worked in the U.S. during the 2020 calendar year should submit a tax return on or before April 15th.

You do not need to have legal status in the United States, or a valid social security number, in order to file a tax return. Certain individuals who do not have a valid social security number, but need to file a U.S. tax return, may apply for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).

If you are undocumented and worked in the U.S. during 2020, it is extremely important that you a) find out whether you are required to file a tax return and b) complete the paperwork correctly, and on time, if you are required to file.

Many immigration applications request proof of accurately submitted tax returns for the years that the applicant was living and working in the United States. If tax returns are incomplete or were filled out incorrectly, the applicant may be required to correct those errors as part of their immigration application, which can even include paying the IRS for taxes which were not paid during prior years.

It is therefore important for everyone who works in the United States: undocumented individuals, work-permit or temporary status holders, permanent residents, citizens, and others, to correctly file their tax returns each year.

However, please also remember to: Watch out for scams!

Many scam artists try to take advantage of vulnerable people during tax season. This is an unfortunate reality every year. Common signs of a tax scam include:

- If someone is promising to get you a much bigger tax refund than you normally receive.

- If someone is promising to help you get legal status in the U.S. as part of, or in addition to, preparing your tax paperwork.

- If the person offering to help prepare your tax return does not work for an accredited tax preparation company or a legitimate business or non-profit organization.

- If you are being asked to pay large fees for tax preparation services and are not being told exactly what those fees are for.

- If the person preparing your taxes threatens to call law enforcement if you do not pay them the fees they are demanding.

- If the tax-preparer is making promises that seem too good to be true.

Where can I get help preparing my tax return?

If you live in the Seattle area and need help preparing your tax return, it may be possible for you to receive free tax-preparation services from a professional.

United Way of King County offers a list of free tax preparation resources here.

The Seattle Public Library System is another trusted source for information, and they have tax preparation resources here.

What should I do if I have a question about my immigration status?

If you would like to find out whether you qualify to apply for legal immigration status, or if you have already begun an application and are in need of an immigration attorney to represent you, please call our office at (425) 374-1681 to schedule a consultation with Brittan or Mary Beth.

Our attorneys would be happy to answer your immigration questions and discuss your options with you. Please note that for the protection of both our staff and clients, we are currently conducting consultations via telephone or video conferencing.