Tax Identification Number

[pushbrk 12,882]

You could file your return now as single to get the refund you need for travel. Once your spouse is here and has the SSN, file an amended return (Form 1040X) as married and include the letter requesting the spouse be treated as a resident alien. There is a form for Foreign Earned Income to report the spouse's pay and there is no tax as long as it's less than $65,000.

I think this what I am going to do.. Thanks rjp44!!

That process of my wife sending her passport to me this time around is kind of risky.. Since she is almost on her interview process..

That's exactly what I did. We weren't about to mail passport between the US and China. My wife was not asked about my filing status at interview but she was prepared to answer.

[DaniDimo 0]

I am confused Is it really necessary for the spouse who lives outside of the US to be on a taxes?

[Delicia 1]

I have the same question too. I was reading the W-7 today and it said it should be filed with TAX paper which and it drove me crazy because I thought we should be used in the Tax paper. I know it can be done

Yes I applyed for a ITIN for my foreign wife with my tax return last year (2006 tax year). You will need to send her passport in with your tax return. They will return her passport to your filing address in about six weeks with her ITIN number.

what if I don't have her passport. On the form they put other document like USCIS and others

They only seem interested in a passort (no copies). I tried with a BC and marriage cert. 1st which they sent back to me and ask for a passport. I had my wife express mail her passort to me via UPS and I gave it back to her next trip.

You can submit a certified copy of the passport in lieu of the original passport. The certified copies can be requested from the issuing agency (my husband was able to get a certified copy from his local consulate).

[rjp44 1]

I am confused Is it really necessary for the spouse who lives outside of the US to be on a taxes?

No, but you will pay less in taxes filing as married joint return which has a higher standard deduction plus have an extra exemption.

[Justin and Masako 0]

I will be filing for my wife's ITIN soon because our bank requires it to open a joint account. She went to the US consulate in Osaka and they made a certified copy there for 3000 yen (~ $30 USD). When I talked to the consulate they said they did certified copies of foreign passports to be used for applying for an ITIN quite often. Also she had to bring a copy of the W-7 with her to the consulate to prove that was what the copy was for.

[HOHOHO 0]

You do not have to send the passport. Just get the passport and make a copy of it and have it notarized here in the states, then send the copy.

I had my wife notorize her passport and her version of our marriage certificate at the US embassy.

I think one would have to be out their freaking mind to entrust sending an ORIGINAL passport to one of these clownassed government agencies.

[HOHOHO 0]

whoops double post

Edited January 8, 2008 by HOHOHO

[SusieK 3]

whoops double post

Tis ok HOHOHO - have missed your words anyways....

In my case, filing to the IRS with other half is according to our CPA going to be as follows for last year- filing married, but seperately since his income nails me to the wall.

Also ditto on notarized passport from him that it shall be fine with IRS.

Cheers

[HOHOHO 0]

whoops double post

Tis ok HOHOHO - have missed your words anyways....

In my case, filing to the IRS with other half is according to our CPA going to be as follows for last year- filing married, but seperately since his income nails me to the wall.

Also ditto on notarized passport from him that it shall be fine with IRS.

Cheers

My wife's income with an elite job in the 3rd world adds up to like 6 times under the USA poverty level.

The H&R block guy said as long as she isn't working in USA I don't need to add in her income. But don't quote me, when I originally read about it I THOUGHT I needed to add her income to mine. Either way it will help my return even if I have to add her meager income to mine.

Seemed to think it was a BONUS i'd be crazy to not claim.

[rjp44 1]

You could file your return now as single to get the refund you need for travel. Once your spouse is here and has the SSN, file an amended return (Form 1040X) as married and include the letter requesting the spouse be treated as a resident alien. There is a form for Foreign Earned Income to report the spouse's pay and there is no tax as long as it's less than $65,000.

I think this what I am going to do.. Thanks rjp44!!

That process of my wife sending her passport to me this time around is kind of risky.. Since she is almost on her interview process..

It won't be long now. Good Luck.

[Jimmy and Angela 0]

My wife is applying to get a new passport next week with her married name on it.

can I send in her old passport since it has not yet expired ?

I really want to include her on this years taxes since that is another way to show an ongoing relationship at the interview

Edited January 17, 2008 by Jimmy and Angela

[Jimmy and Angela 0]

Anybody?

[pushbrk 12,882]

Anybody?

An old passport would be marked as no longer valid but it might be worth a try at a local IRS office if you also have a photocopy of the new passport.