clarification of terms for our spouses

[rcc04 1]

okay-- maybe i'm just naive and out of the loop because i don't have a lot of experience filing taxes nor w-4's so i'm turning to all you wiser people.

if our spouses are residing abroad, waiting for paperwork to become non resident aliens, but still married to us, what does that make them in terms of filing? in the eyes of the government?

i had posted before but didn't get much clarification in terms of w-4.... are our spouses still considered non resident aliens, even if they live abroad? does that mean we still enter them on the personal allowances worksheet, but keep ourselves checked as single? i'm oh so confused.

[riblet 0]

Your only options are married jointly or married separately.

I believe that our spouses are non-resident aliens. But for purposes of filing taxes they can elect to be treated as resident aliens.

Please review this thread, as it may help:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=53893&st=0

[nyseness 0]

Your only options are married jointly or married separately.

I believe that our spouses are non-resident aliens. But for purposes of filing taxes they can elect to be treated as resident aliens.

Please review this thread, as it may help:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=53893&st=0

This is not completely true. Per the IRS, you can file Head of Houshold if your have other dependents to qualify (such as a child) you.

[riblet 0]

Yes, thanks for the clarification I really meant to emphasize that filing Single is not an option, thanks for catching that!

Your only options are married jointly or married separately.

I believe that our spouses are non-resident aliens. But for purposes of filing taxes they can elect to be treated as resident aliens.

Please review this thread, as it may help:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...=53893&st=0

This is not completely true. Per the IRS, you can file Head of Houshold if your have other dependents to qualify (such as a child) you.

[beameup 0]

Many Americans live in foreign countries. The Internal Revenue Service will gladly and eagerly collect taxes from expats living abroad. If the expat has a foreign national wife he is obligated to let IRS know and file as married. I would expect no less from "my government" as a CITIZEN.

okay-- maybe i'm just naive and out of the loop because i don't have a lot of experience filing taxes nor w-4's so i'm turning to all you wiser people.

if our spouses are residing abroad, waiting for paperwork to become non resident aliens, but still married to us, what does that make them in terms of filing? in the eyes of the government?

i had posted before but didn't get much clarification in terms of w-4.... are our spouses still considered non resident aliens, even if they live abroad? does that mean we still enter them on the personal allowances worksheet, but keep ourselves checked as single? i'm oh so confused.

[Yodrak 7]

rcc04,

Not "even if", because. (What do you think "non resident" means?)

Yodrak

..... are our spouses still considered non resident aliens, even if they live abroad? .....

[rcc04 1]

i thought maybe non-resident meant a u.s. citizen or someone on a visa not currently living here. i didn't know if the tables were turned since, in my case, my husband hasn't even been approved or accepted yet. it doesn't really matter to me either way-- just trying to understand the wording! what if he's unemployed?

[dougyceci 0]

Employed or not does not matter. If you file with him you have to include his foreign earned income. In my case my wife does not work so it is a gift for me. Just file the W-7 with your tax return and they will assign an ITIN number.

[nyseness 0]

Employed or not does not matter. If you file with him you have to include his foreign earned income. In my case my wife does not work so it is a gift for me. Just file the W-7 with your tax return and they will assign an ITIN number.

I agree. My husband is also unemployed so I enter my wages since he doesn't have any.