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International Tax

What is Dual Status Taxpayer?

A person who is both a resident alien and nonresident alien in the same tax year, typically during arrival or departure year.

Definition

A dual-status taxpayer is someone who is both a US resident alien and a nonresident alien during the same tax year. This typically occurs in the year you arrive in or depart from the United States. During the resident portion, you're taxed on worldwide income; during the nonresident portion, only on US-source income. Special rules apply for filing, and you cannot claim standard deduction for the entire year.

Who Needs to Know This?

Immigrants arriving in the US, emigrants departing the US, or anyone whose US residency status changed during the tax year.

Key Deadline

Tax return due April 15 (or June 15 with automatic extension for those abroad)

Potential Penalties

Standard penalties for late filing or underpayment apply

Related Forms

Form 1040Form 1040-NRStatement attached to return

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • 1Filing as full-year resident when dual-status applies
  • 2Not attaching required dual-status statement to return
  • 3Trying to claim standard deduction for full year
  • 4Not properly allocating income between resident and nonresident periods

Related Terms

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    Dual Status Taxpayer: Arrival & Departure Year Filing | Zenith Financial | Zenith Financial Advisors