2006 income tax and foreign spouse

[bhangrabob 0]

I wasn't sure where else to put this, so I'll wait and see where the Cyber Elves take me.

I got married earlier this year, and my spouse won't be in the States on her CR-1 for many months yet. She has no US income and I am not supporting her with mine. We don't have any joint assets. For practical purposes, it's like we aren't even married. What is the smartest way to handle this state of affairs on my otherwise very uncomplicated income tax forms?

Thanks,

Bob

[maryandatif 0]

What I did was have my husband sign a W-7 form and sent it in along with my taxes for this past year. You will also need to send in a copy of their pasport when you send it in. Other than that I have no clue.

[bhangrabob 0]

What I did was have my husband sign a W-7 form and sent it in along with my taxes for this past year. You will also need to send in a copy of their pasport when you send it in. Other than that I have no clue.

Thanks for the info. I'll find out what the heck a W-7 is tonight! I really must love my wife -- she sure has made life complicated.

Peace,

Bob

[mistizagirl 0]

hi, im new to this site and trying to figure out how to use it. i was reading this post and looked at ur time line. my fiancee is in khemisset, morocco and we want to apply for visa. im looking into a lawyer and i saw u used a lawyer. i was wonder if i could get ur opinion. would it be better for us to marry in morocco and file for k3 or go with the k1. would u recommend me getting a lawyer to better my chances of me not messing up the process and it taking forever to get approved? thanks for your help.....elizabeth

[Married_my_love 0]

I wasn't sure where else to put this, so I'll wait and see where the Cyber Elves take me.

I got married earlier this year, and my spouse won't be in the States on her CR-1 for many months yet. She has no US income and I am not supporting her with mine. We don't have any joint assets. For practical purposes, it's like we aren't even married. What is the smartest way to handle this state of affairs on my otherwise very uncomplicated income tax forms?

Thanks, Bob

Since you are married, you have no choice but to either file: married filing joint or - married filing seperate. It IS like you are married!

My hubby hasn't worked in US either but I applied for an ITIN (social sec # for tax purposes only) and we did married filing joint. (check irs site, search for ITIN, it is explained there)

It made a much bigger return for us as we got to write off most of his income as a foreign tax credit (he didn't make much but anyway). It took me quite a while to get my H&R block guy to figure it out though, but he did it! If you can find someone to punch numbers both ways and go with whatever works out better for you I would think that would be good. But ya can't just file single anymore!

would u recommend me getting a lawyer to better my chances of me not messing up the process and it taking forever to get approved? thanks for your help.....elizabeth

Elizabeth, others may differ on this, but there are people on this board that had their lawyers mess things up for them..... don't just get a lawyer based on that. Read the guides and read lots of the threads, post in the area that people from your region are hanging out. Read read read..... which route you choose depends on how long you want to wait, and whether you'd be ok with one not working right away, etc.

[bhangrabob 0]

My hubby hasn't worked in US either but I applied for an ITIN (social sec # for tax purposes only) and we did married filing joint. (check irs site, search for ITIN, it is explained there)

Thanks, MML. If you had decided to go with "Married, Filing Single", would you still have had to get an ITIN for your Hubs?

Peace,

Bob

[damocles_422 0]

I have also tried to get the W-7 form and the person I talked to at the IRS Office told me not to worry. I gave her the certified copy of the Passport and all information and she told me it takes about 10 weeks to get a Temp Tav ID. My wife would be here by then (I Hope) so she told me to wait and see if she is here insted of going thru the Temp Tax ID thing. I have a refund comming to me and I think also the goverment does not mind being late to send money to folks to. (Cause the Government is broke)... hahahaha

[Married_my_love 0]

Thanks, MML. If you had decided to go with "Married, Filing Single", would you still have had to get an ITIN for your Hubs?

Peace, Bob

Y'know I'd assume so since you'd be having to put something in that line (but not totally sure, guess you might need to call and ask IRS?). I know I wanted to do married filing single cuz it sounded much easier, but MAN it made a huge difference in our refund by going the extra mile to do filing joint and claim the foreign tax credit......

[miker32us 6]

Married, filing single....now that's a new one on me, perhaps married filing separately is what you meant....

My hubby hasn't worked in US either but I applied for an ITIN (social sec # for tax purposes only) and we did married filing joint. (check irs site, search for ITIN, it is explained there)

Thanks, MML. If you had decided to go with "Married, Filing Single", would you still have had to get an ITIN for your Hubs?

Peace,

Bob