Income Tax Filing Question

[phong+mai 0]

Does anyone know if I should file as married or single on my income tax returns? What are the rules for filing if my wife and I were married in another country and she isn't here yet, and obviously has no social security #...?

My main concern is if I continue to file as single, will it become a problem when it comes time for the visa interview? That, and the extra deduction would be nice

Thanks,

Phong

[Yodrak 7]

Phong,

The rule is quite simple - if you're single file as single, if you're married file as married. If you're married and your spouse does not have and does not qualify for a SSN then get them an ITIN.

I filed a married-joint return while my wife was in her home country waiting for my petition to be approved and saved thousands.

Yodrak

Does anyone know if I should file as married or single on my income tax returns? What are the rules for filing if my wife and I were married in another country and she isn't here yet, and obviously has no social security #...?

My main concern is if I continue to file as single, will it become a problem when it comes time for the visa interview? That, and the extra deduction would be nice

Thanks,

Phong

Edited July 11, 2006 by Yodrak

[kpathak 0]

Yodrak -- I wish I had known about getting the ITIN -- I got married last year but filed head of household. My CPA told me that my wife needed a SSN.

Man, I seem to be retaining some pretty shi**y professional services lately. First the tax accountant and then the attorney <yikes>.

KP

Phong,

The rule is quite simple - if you're single file as single, if you're married file as married. If you're married and your spouse does not have and does not qualify for a SSN then get them an ITIN.

I filed a married-joint return while my wife was in her home country waiting for my petition to be approved and saved thousands.

Yodrak

Does anyone know if I should file as married or single on my income tax returns? What are the rules for filing if my wife and I were married in another country and she isn't here yet, and obviously has no social security #...?

My main concern is if I continue to file as single, will it become a problem when it comes time for the visa interview? That, and the extra deduction would be nice

Thanks,

Phong

[thermophile 0]

Yodrak -- I wish I had known about getting the ITIN -- I got married last year but filed head of household. My CPA told me that my wife needed a SSN.

Man, I seem to be retaining some pretty shi**y professional services lately. First the tax accountant and then the attorney <yikes>.

KP

There is some way to refile, I don't know exactly what it is. But maybe your lousy CPA can tell you. I think that you have up to 3 years to file to fix your marital status or what ever else you need to fix.

[doodads 0]

I investigated gettin a TIN for my wife, but I had to submit a notarized copy of her passport. I did not see how I could possibly get that here with her being in Russia. How did you get the TIN?

Bob

Yodrak -- I wish I had known about getting the ITIN -- I got married last year but filed head of household. My CPA told me that my wife needed a SSN.

Man, I seem to be retaining some pretty shi**y professional services lately. First the tax accountant and then the attorney <yikes>.

KP

There is some way to refile, I don't know exactly what it is. But maybe your lousy CPA can tell you. I think that you have up to 3 years to file to fix your marital status or what ever else you need to fix.

[Cygnet 0]

I investigated gettin a TIN for my wife, but I had to submit a notarized copy of her passport. I did not see how I could possibly get that here with her being in Russia. How did you get the TIN?

Bob

When my husband filed this year, he also attached the application for the ITIN for me.

I went to the US consulate here in Montreal to get a notarized copy of my passport. Then I just mailed him the notarized copy along with the W-7 which I also got from the consulate (they were able to answer some of my questions with regards to filling it out). Your wife can probably call and get some info from the consulate closes to her. This service is under American Citizen Services.

In May, the IRS mailed me my ITIN number. BUT THEN.... they managed to lose my husband's income tax return! But that's another story. I should start a new thread about that somewhere.

[Tim and Bethanie 1]

I was told I could not file married/joint return, they made me file as head of household. I wish I had known I could have gotten him an ITIN, little late now.