I've been handling quarterly payments for married filing jointly for several years now, and you're right to ask about this! The good news is you have flexibility - you can either make one combined payment or separate payments, whichever works better for your situation. From a practical standpoint, I'd recommend sticking with one combined payment since you're already in the routine of handling quarterly estimates. Just expand your current Form 1040-ES calculation to include both of your self-employment incomes. The IRS only cares that your total payments meet the safe harbor rules for your joint filing. One important tip: since your wife has W-2 withholding, make sure to factor that into your calculation. Her workplace withholding will significantly reduce how much you need to pay in quarterly estimates, so you might actually owe less than you think when combining everything. Also remember that you'll need to account for self-employment tax (15.3%) on both of your gig incomes when calculating the quarterly amounts. The deadline schedule remains the same - January 15, April 15, June 15, and September 15. I'd suggest running through the Form 1040-ES worksheet once more with both incomes included to make sure you're on track for 2024. Better to adjust now than deal with underpayment issues later!

This is a great question that many married couples struggle with! You're absolutely right to get clarification before making any mistakes. The short answer is that you can choose either approach - making one combined quarterly payment or separate payments for each spouse. Since you file jointly, the IRS treats your tax liability as one combined amount, so they don't care how the estimated payments are structured as long as the total covers what you owe. Given that you're already comfortable with handling quarterly estimates, I'd suggest sticking with one combined payment for simplicity. Just expand your current calculation to include your wife's gig income along with yours. Use the Form 1040-ES worksheet to determine the new quarterly amount that covers both of your self-employment incomes. One key advantage you have is that your wife's W-2 withholding will actually work in your favor here. That withholding applies to your joint tax liability, so it should reduce the total amount you need to pay through quarterly estimates. You might find that your quarterly payments don't increase as much as you initially expected. Don't forget to account for self-employment tax (15.3%) on both gig incomes when doing your calculations. And remember the quarterly deadlines remain the same: January 15, April 15, June 15, and September 15. Getting this sorted out now will save you headaches later - good thinking to plan ahead!

I can't provide any specific information about GW Carter, but I wanted to share some general thoughts on vetting accounting firms for international tax work. The fact that you can't find online reviews isn't necessarily a red flag - many reputable smaller firms rely heavily on referrals and may not have much of a digital footprint. However, given the complexity of non-US resident tax situations, I'd strongly recommend asking any potential firm about their specific experience with cases like yours. Key questions might include: How many non-US resident clients do they currently serve? What's their experience with tax treaties between your country of residence and the US? Can they provide references from clients in similar situations? You might also want to ask about their approach to ongoing tax law changes affecting international clients, and whether they have experience with all the various forms you might need (like Form 8938 for foreign assets, FBAR requirements, etc.). If you're still hesitant about GW Carter after your due diligence, there are other options worth exploring. The IRS has a directory of tax professionals, and organizations like the National Association of Tax Professionals maintain referral services that can help you find specialists in international taxation.

I haven't worked with GW Carter specifically, but I wanted to share my experience as someone who went through a similar search for international tax help. The lack of online reviews was actually pretty common among the specialized firms I looked at - many of them seem to operate primarily on referrals within the expat community. What I found most helpful was asking firms to explain their approach to my specific situation during the initial consultation. For example, I asked them to walk through how they would handle foreign tax credits for taxes I'd already paid in my country of residence, and how they'd approach treaty benefits. The firms that really knew their stuff could explain these concepts clearly and give specific examples. One red flag I learned to watch for was firms that seemed to treat international taxation as just an add-on service rather than a core competency. You want someone who deals with cases like yours regularly, not someone who might be learning as they go. If you do move forward with GW Carter or anyone else, I'd suggest asking for a detailed engagement letter that spells out exactly what's included in their fee. International tax work can involve a lot of forms and calculations, and you don't want surprise charges later for things like FBAR filing or foreign tax credit computations. Good luck with your search! The right accountant makes such a difference when dealing with cross-border tax issues.

I'm really glad I found this thread - I've been in a similar situation and was feeling overwhelmed by all the requirements. After reading everyone's experiences, I feel much more confident about the process. Based on what I've learned here, it sounds like the key steps are: 1) Use your bank instead of Western Union for an amount this large, 2) Document everything about where the money came from, 3) Be completely transparent about the transfer purpose, and 4) Don't try to structure transactions to avoid reporting. One question I still have - for those who used professional tax help, did you consult with them before making the transfer or after? I'm trying to figure out if I should get advice upfront to plan the transfer correctly, or if it's sufficient to get help later when filing the required forms. Given that this is a significant amount and I want to make sure I do everything properly from the start, I'm leaning toward getting professional guidance before proceeding. Also, has anyone dealt with transfers to multiple countries? I need to send money to family members in two different countries, and I'm wondering if that complicates the reporting requirements at all. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been incredibly helpful!

I've been following this discussion closely as I'm facing a similar situation - need to send about $80k overseas for family medical expenses. The advice here has been incredibly helpful, especially the emphasis on using banks rather than money transfer services for large amounts. One thing I wanted to add based on my research: if you're sending this much money, consider asking your bank about their "know your customer" (KYC) requirements upfront. Some banks may want additional documentation beyond just proof of funds - especially if this represents a significant increase in your typical international transfer activity. Getting ahead of their requirements can prevent delays. Also, I noticed several people mentioned the gift tax annual exclusion of $17,000 per recipient. Keep in mind that this applies to each individual recipient, so if you're sending to multiple family members, you could potentially send $17k to each without triggering Form 709 requirements. However, you'd still need to handle all the other reporting requirements (FBAR, potential Form 8938, etc.) regardless of whether it's structured as gifts. The most reassuring thing I've learned from this thread is that these reporting requirements are routine for banks and the IRS - they process thousands of legitimate large transfers every day. As long as you're transparent and document everything properly, it should go smoothly. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences!

Based on all the excellent advice shared here, I wanted to add one more important consideration that could affect your specific situation. Since your wife obtained her green card last year, you'll want to carefully review the exact dates involved - when she graduated, when she received her green card, and when she started working. The US-China Tax Treaty's Article 20(c) has some unique provisions compared to other treaties. The $5,000 exemption can sometimes extend beyond the actual enrollment period if the individual is still in the US "primarily for education or training" purposes. This might apply if there was a gap between graduation and starting work, or if her initial employment was related to her field of study. However, the green card timing is crucial. If she became a permanent resident before her student status ended, this could affect the treaty calculation differently than if she received it after graduation. The saving clause exceptions do preserve educational benefits, but the interaction between permanent resident status and student status needs to be carefully analyzed. I'd strongly recommend reviewing the exact treaty language in Article 20(c) of the US-China Tax Treaty, as it has some specific provisions about the timing and nature of qualifying income that differ from the general student treaty provisions in other countries' agreements. Given the complexity of combining partial-year student status, new green card status, and joint filing, this might be worth a consultation with someone who specializes in US-China tax treaty issues to make sure you're maximizing your benefits while staying compliant.

This has been an incredibly helpful discussion! As someone who works with international tax compliance, I want to emphasize a few key points for anyone in similar situations: **Documentation is Critical**: Beyond the enrollment records and transcripts mentioned, also gather your wife's I-94 arrival/departure records, any F-1/OPT documentation, and the exact dates on her green card. The IRS may want to see a complete timeline of her immigration status changes. **Consider the "Tie-Breaker" Rules**: Since your wife has both Chinese citizenship and U.S. permanent residency, the treaty's tie-breaker provisions in Article 4 become important. Her "permanent home" determination could affect which treaty benefits are available. **Joint Filing Complications**: Filing jointly with a spouse claiming treaty benefits can create some unique reporting requirements. Make sure you're comfortable with the joint and several liability aspects, especially for any treaty positions. **State Tax Implications**: Don't forget that treaty benefits typically only apply to federal taxes. Your state may not recognize the treaty exemption, so factor that into your overall tax planning. The consensus here seems solid - a prorated benefit based on student months with careful Form 8833 documentation. Just remember that treaty positions are always subject to higher IRS scrutiny, so err on the side of conservative calculations and thorough documentation. Given the complexity with the green card timing, this might be worth the cost of professional review for peace of mind.

Last year I was in your shoes (except with just one kid from prior relationship). I almost let my boyfriend claim all of us thinking it would be better... thank god I filed my own return! 😂 Got almost $5,000 back with EITC and Child Tax Credit with my low income. The tax system actually benefits single parents with lower incomes in many cases. My boyfriend's refund would have only increased by like $500 if he claimed me and my son. Run the numbers both ways if you want, but I'd bet money you'll come out ahead filing on your own.

Based on your situation, you should absolutely file your own return and claim your two biological children. With a $10,000 income and two qualifying children, you're likely looking at a substantial EITC refund - potentially several thousand dollars that you'd completely lose if your boyfriend claims you as a dependent. Here's the key issue: even if your boyfriend *could* claim you as a dependent (which requires very specific conditions), doing so would disqualify you from claiming your own children and receiving the EITC. The EITC is designed to benefit lower-income working families, and with two kids, your credit could be significant. A few important points to verify: - Make sure your boyfriend cannot claim either of your two biological children (they need to pass the qualifying child tests for him, which is unlikely if they're not his biological children and didn't live with him the full year) - Coordinate carefully so there's no overlap in who claims which child - Consider filing as Head of Household if you qualify, which could provide additional benefits The math almost certainly works in your favor to file separately. You'd be leaving potentially thousands of dollars on the table otherwise.