Married or single while wife isn't in US yet

[mike777 0]

Hi, I apologize if this has been addressed already.

When I filed taxes during the year on any w-2's, I filed single, because the form states to form single if married to nonresident alien, so I did. My wife also is filing single in Canada.

Question, am I wrong? I looked and couldn't find anything online about it. If I'm wrong, where do I go and how do I go about correcting the issue?

I'm just planning on filing as I normally have all my previous unmarried years.

[payxibka 10,045]

Hi, I apologize if this has been addressed already.

When I filed taxes during the year on any w-2's, I filed single, because the form states to form single if married to nonresident alien, so I did. My wife also is filing single in Canada.

Question, am I wrong? I looked and couldn't find anything online about it. If I'm wrong, where do I go and how do I go about correcting the issue?

I'm just planning on filing as I normally have all my previous unmarried years.

Your options are Married Filing Joint (MFJ) (if you elect to treat your spouse as a resident alien for tax purposes)

or

Married Filing Separate (MFS) if you will treat your wife as a non-resident alien (NRA) for tax purposes

On the outside chance you have a qualifying dependent you could possibly file Head of Household (HOH)

On the W-4 (not W-2) it says indicate single for a spouse of a NRA because MFS tax rates are the same as single rates. This is done to ensure the proper withholding levels

[mike777 0]

Your options are Married Filing Joint (MFJ) (if you elect to treat your spouse as a resident alien for tax purposes)

or

Married Filing Separate (MFS) if you will treat your wife as a non-resident alien (NRA) for tax purposes

On the outside chance you have a qualifying dependent you could possibly file Head of Household (HOH)

On the W-4 (not W-2) it says indicate single for a spouse of a NRA because MFS tax rates are the same as single rates. This is done to ensure the proper withholding levels

Maybe it was the w-4 then. I had a couple jobs and when I started whatever you fill out when you start a new job. I put single, then can I just leave it alone? I'll be changing it once we move though, she's not in the US yet.

[payxibka 10,045]

Maybe it was the w-4 then. I had a couple jobs and when I started whatever you fill out when you start a new job. I put single, then can I just leave it alone? I'll be changing it once we move though, she's not in the US yet.

What your withholding status is has no effect/bearing on you actual tax filing status is

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Sorry - it's not clear to me - were you married in 2009 and did your wife move to the US to be with you?

[mike777 0]

Sorry - it's not clear to me - were you married in 2009 and did your wife move to the US to be with you?

I was married in 2009 but she was and still is, in Canada.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I'm interested in the answer to this as well...along with the inverse: if I should file as single or married when I file in CANADA next month.

[Malrothien 6]

Married, Wyatt, as that is what you are. For both ways.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Married, Wyatt, as that is what you are. For both ways.

But would I file as married joint, or married single...if that makes any sense?

[Malrothien 6]

There is no such thing as filing jointly in Canada.

[mike777 0]

So when I actually do my taxes this year, I'd do married file seperate?

I guess what my bigger concern was, when I actually willed out W-4's. That I don't have to go back and retroactively get new numbers for tax purposes when I was married.

[payxibka 10,045]

So when I actually do my taxes this year, I'd do married file seperate?

I guess what my bigger concern was, when I actually willed out W-4's. That I don't have to go back and retroactively get new numbers for tax purposes when I was married.

As mentioned before, no relationship .... If you had too much/too little tax withheld you may wish to change your W-4 but there is no retroactive ability to do this as W-4 changes are prospective...

[Malrothien 6]

Wyatt:

http://www.taxtips.ca/filing/spousereturn.htm

If you are living apart from each other due to some other reason, you would still be considered married or living common-law.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Wyatt:

http://www.taxtips.ca/filing/spousereturn.htm

If you are living apart from each other due to some other reason, you would still be considered married or living common-law.

Thanks Mal! I'm pretty useless with tax stuff. I appreciate the link!

[Malrothien 6]

Spent almost two years at a Canadian tax accountant firm.