Income tax question

[gusto 0]

Not sure if this is the right forum for tax related questions...

I have a question regarding my 2009 income taxes. I worked as an English teacher in Thailand all year though I can still claim residency in Kansas. I am married to a Thai woman -- she does not have citizenship and I am currently applying for her immigration visa (CR-1). We have a son together who has dual citizenship. My wife had no income last year as she was a stay at home mother. I am in the process of completing my income taxes and want to know how I should complete the questions concerning my wife.

We are married so is my filing status 'married'? Or should I file single as she is not a citizen, has never been to the US and has no income? If we file jointly she has no social security number. In this case do I need to apply for an Individual Tax ID Number?

[jundp 191]

I may be wrong (not a CPA or tax attorney here) but I believe you would file as "head of household" because you have two dependents.

[Nasturtium 500]

Years ago when I got married, I had this question and asked the IRS-- so this is 4-year-old info and keep that in mind. They told me to just file married and joint, and concurrently do the W7 to get the ITIN. I went ahead and did a married/joint, and did the form with it. I had no problems. I used his ITIN the second year, and then after that, he moved here and got a SSN. The ITIN process can be a pain if they want her IDs in person, but it seems they only gave me this hassel and not other people. the IRS woman also, of course, told me she didn't believe in Arab men being allowed in the country-- so that was probably part of my problem.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Not sure if this is the right forum for tax related questions...

I have a question regarding my 2009 income taxes. I worked as an English teacher in Thailand all year though I can still claim residency in Kansas. I am married to a Thai woman -- she does not have citizenship and I am currently applying for her immigration visa (CR-1). We have a son together who has dual citizenship. My wife had no income last year as she was a stay at home mother. I am in the process of completing my income taxes and want to know how I should complete the questions concerning my wife.

We are married so is my filing status 'married'? Or should I file single as she is not a citizen, has never been to the US and has no income? If we file jointly she has no social security number. In this case do I need to apply for an Individual Tax ID Number?

married filing joint. For social security number write "pending" and file a paper return by US mail, you cannot file an electronic return without everyone having a valid SSN.