Tax preparation in Passaic County NJ, including ITIN filers

You have to file. Your immigration status doesn’t change that.

Whether you file taxes in the United States depends on your income, not your paperwork. If you earned money here, on a W-2, on a 1099, or in cash, you likely have a filing obligation. And filing correctly protects you in ways most people don’t realize.

We prepare returns for employees, self-employed workers, and small business owners across Paterson and Passaic County, and by Zoom for clients nationwide.

What we prepare

  • Individual returns: W-2 income, multiple employers, married filing jointly or separately

  • Self-employed and 1099 returns: Schedule C, deductions, self-employment tax
  • Cash income: construction, cleaning, landscaping, childcare, food service, delivery
  • ITIN returns: including first-time Form W-7 applications filed with your return
  • Small business returns: LLC, S-Corp, partnership
  • Back taxes: prior-year returns, catching up on years you missed
  • Quarterly estimated taxes: for the self-employed
  • Payroll and 1099 issuance: if you pay workers
  • IRS notices and letters: we help you understand what the IRS actually wants

What you should bring

  • Photo ID (passport, consular ID, or driver’s license)

  • Social Security card or ITIN letter, for you, your spouse, and each dependent

  • All W-2s and 1099s
  • Records of cash income, if any
  • Last year’s tax return, if you have it
  • Bank account and routing number for direct deposit
  • Records of business expenses, if self-employed
  • Childcare provider’s information and tax ID, if claiming childcare costs
  • If you have Marketplace (Obamacare) health insurance, bring your Form 1095-A.

Don’t have everything? Come anyway. We’ll figure out what’s missing and how to get it.

Filing with an ITIN: What to Know About Credits

The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) requires a Social Security Number. ITIN filers are not eligible for the federal EITC.

The Child Tax Credit requires the child to have a Social Security Number, the parent can file with an ITIN.

New Jersey’s state credits follow different rules than the federal ones. We’ll check your specific eligibility for the current tax year rather than guess.

The Question Everyone Is Asking: Is It Safe to File?

We’re not going to pretend this isn’t on your mind.

In April 2025, the IRS entered a data-sharing agreement with ICE, the first time the agency formally shared taxpayer information for immigration enforcement purposes. Since then, that agreement has been challenged in multiple federal courts, which have reached conflicting conclusions. As of early 2026, the litigation is ongoing and the rules have shifted more than once.

What we can tell you:

  • The basic IRS rule has not changed. Whether you must file depends on income and filing status, not immigration status.
  • Not filing creates its own problems, tax penalties, interest, and potential complications in future immigration applications. Many immigration processes ask for tax returns or transcripts as proof of presence, work history, and good moral character.
  • This is a decision only you can make, and it deserves real legal advice. We will refer you to a licensed immigration attorney to discuss your specific situation. We will not charge you for that referral.
  • We will never tell you the risk is zero. We will tell you what we know and help you decide with clear eyes.

If you want a straight conversation about this before you decide anything, come in.

FAQ’s

The following are just a few of the most frequent questions by our clients related to tax preparation and filing. You can check our FAQ page with more related questions.

If you earned income in the United States, you may have a tax filing obligation regardless of your immigration status. Filing requirements are generally based on your income and filing situation, not whether you have legal immigration status.

Yes. If you are not eligible for a Social Security Number, you may be able to file your tax return using an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

Yes. We can help prepare your Form W-7 ITIN application and file it with your federal tax return when required.

Yes. An ITIN can be used for federal tax purposes when you are not eligible for a Social Security Number. However, having an ITIN does not provide immigration status or work authorization.

Yes. Cash income is still income that may need to be reported. We can help you organize and report cash income from jobs such as construction, cleaning, landscaping, childcare, food service, delivery, and other work.

Yes. You may be able to file your missing returns and get your tax situation caught up. We can help determine which prior-year returns you need to address.

Depending on your situation, you could have unpaid taxes, penalties, interest, or missing returns. Filing your back taxes can help you understand and resolve your tax situation.

This is a situation where you should get advice based on your individual circumstances. Tax filing requirements generally depend on income and filing status, not immigration status. Because tax and immigration matters can overlap, we can explain the tax side and refer you to a licensed immigration attorney for immigration-specific advice.

Tax and immigration circumstances can be complicated, and there is no universal answer. We will not promise that there is zero risk. If you are concerned about how your tax history could affect an immigration matter, we can refer you to a licensed immigration attorney.

Potentially. Eligibility for child-related tax benefits depends on several requirements, including the child’s Social Security Number and other rules. We’ll review your specific situation before claiming a credit.

Don’t let fear or confusion keep you from filing

Whether you have an ITIN, work for yourself, earn cash, have years of unfiled taxes, or simply don’t know where to start, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Eva’s Agency can help you understand what you need, prepare your return correctly, and identify the next steps for your situation.