W-7 forms and instructions

[CJ Vasani 0]

Hi All --

I got married in December 2007 in India and am in process of sponsoring my wife to US via CR1. Meanwhile, it's tax season and obviously I'd like to learn how I can delcare myself married on the tax return for 2007 and file jointly.

She is a bank manager in India. Do I need any paperwork from her? Or would just getting a Tax ID via form w-7 would suffice?

Also, do you know any sources online with specific instructions on how to file a w-7 for a foreign spouse?

Thanks,

CJ Vasani

[Delicia 1]

IRS.gov has the W-7 form and its instructions on how to complete it (just type W-7 in the search box on the site and it will take you right to the form and its instructions). It is pretty self explanatory. You will need to submit ID for the foreign spouse along with the W-7 and most people can submit a certified copy of her passport along with the W-7 form. An English translation will also be required if the passport is in any language other than English. You can submit the completed W-7 (with its accompanying proof) with the tax return and just leave the SSN blank for the spouse on the return. Edited March 14, 2008 by Delicia

[spg21 0]

If you are gonna be filling jointly with her you are gonna have to include her income in India because you are taxed on worldwide income if you decide to make the choice. But then you can take a foreign income exemption using form 2555. May seem strange to declare something and then deducting it but that's the proper way to do it.

Using H&R Block Taxcut software has all this built it and will even fill out the 2555-EZ for you. I found that program more intuitive than TurboTax for declaring foreign incomes of spouses.

Edited March 14, 2008 by spg21

[timcass_12 5]

my husband sent me multiple copies of W-7 (3 filled-out forms and 2 blank forms - just making sure that he has extra signed copies in case there is a need for him to fill-up a new form). I just signed all of them and attached a copy of notarized/authenticated passport and send it to him for filing.

[CJ Vasani 0]

Thanks all for your help. I am gonna dig deeper into this based on your comments and see what I can come up with. Meanwhile, I am going to file for an extension while I do research to do the taxes properly (such that I can more moolahs from the govt.)