Each sponsor needs to submit taxes and W2’s if he/she is not using an IRS printout, or provide a reason for not filing taxes. Information regarding your income and taxes should be provided in Part 6 “Sponsor’s Employment and Income” of Form I-864, Affidavit of Support. In Part 6, item 24, you should indicate your total income (adjusted gross income on Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 1040EZ) as reported on your Federal income tax returns for the most recent 3 years was. You are supposed to indicate a tax year and a total income in dollars. Do not leave the field for the most recent year blank. If the amount was zero, type or print “zero”, or if you were not required to file a Federal income tax return type or print “N/A” for not applicable.
Not everybody is obliged to file a Federal income tax return each year. You are not required to file a Federal income tax return if, for example, you did not work and thus the income was zero, if your income was below the threshold, or if your total income for the year did not overpass the standard deduction plus one exemption and you are not a dependent to another tax payer. In such cases, you will have to attach the evidence that your income was below the IRS required level. In simple cases, a personal declaration can serve as a sufficient evidence. Additionally, you can submit forms W-2s or 1099s as a proof of your low income level.
Meanwhile please note that if you are not required to file a Federal income tax return, then most probably it means that your income amount is not enough to sponsor the intending immigrant and thus a joint sponsor is required.
Also, do not submit any tax returns that you filed with any foreign government, unless you claim that you were not required to file a Federal individual income tax return with the United States Government and you wish to rely on the foreign return solely to establish the amount of your income that is not subject to tax in the United States.