Married Filing Jointly, Seperately or Wait for ITIN?

[AZSINMX 0]

this may have been answered but i didnt find it....

so tax time is here, still waiting for the NOA2 so of course i need to do taxes and i want to have spouse on taxes, now.. if i file single... then send those tax documents to nvc and/or interview i dont want a red flag when it comes to proving bonafide relationship...if i file married seperately or jointly i need the itin or ssn anyways...if i file for an itin i wont get it until may or june which is about the time my wife will get her ssn.... so what do i do? file single and risk a red flag with nvc and then refile taxes when my spouse gets her ssn later and get the rest of our tax credit? or file for itin and not file taxes until june and file for an extension..... any comments or suggestions are greatly appreciated

thank you

[jkelly07 120]

taxes w-7 you can always amend your taxes, file as married jointy irs form- 4868, 6 month extension until oct 15, you should get your itin by then.follow then instructions very carefully when you get the itin number your tax returns and all w,2 1099,s togather to be sent to the department that only handles the itin department, in austin texas. if you need more information about that call that department 1-800-908-9982. if your married. file as married joint you will get a better refund as married.

[Alia&Jerald 5]

taxes w-7 you can always amend your taxes, file as married jointy irs form- 4868, 6 month extension until oct 15, you should get your itin by then.follow then instructions very carefully when you get the itin number your tax returns and all w,2 1099,s togather to be sent to the department that only handles the itin department, in austin texas. if you need more information about that call that department 1-800-908-9982. if your married. file as married joint you will get a better refund as married.

I thought you file for the itin together with the tax return now, didnt know you had to wait to get the itin to then file...

[sunshine79 7]

I thought you file for the itin together with the tax return now, didnt know you had to wait to get the itin to then file...

You're correct. You do file the W-7 with your return. You do not have to wait for the ITIN. In the SSN field for your spouse, you enter something like "ITIN Requested". Only catch is you have to file manually (not electronically) by sending it to the ITIN dept. in Austin, TX. Takes a few weeks. I think mine took a month.

[AZSINMX 0]

I heard it takes 2 to 3 months for the itin to be processed . When did you file for your taxes at austin tx?

[sunshine79 7]

I heard it takes 2 to 3 months for the itin to be processed . When did you file for your taxes at austin tx?

I recall mailing everything in late June (I filed an extension) like 28/29th and receiving my refund in early August like 3/4th. I believe the ITIN notice came before this. This was last year.

[DeathStrike 9]

I had the same question, you can get some answers here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/346906-tax-question-married-or-single-status/page__p__5100407#entry5100407

Especially look at rin and john's reply, which I decided to follow.

I will complete my tax (in turbotax) as 'Married filing jointly' then select print and file (her SSN part will be empty). Get her to sign a W-7, get notarized copies (according to W7 instructions) of her passport (old and new). Then attach a cover letter explaining the situation and send it out to Austin, TX address (in W7 instructions).

[Darnell 8,478]

i say send a paper 1040 with all forms, including w-7 and ID documents, and the cover letter stating you and yer spouse ELECT to have her counted as a resident for tax purposes,

all to the special W-7 address in Austin, TX

[AZSINMX 0]

Yea but my concern is i do not want to file as single because if i show nvc the filing status i do not want any red flags so i guess i will have to go to a tax pro and have them help me with the itin situation... Im assuming after she gets her ssn there is a way to notify the irs to discontinue itin and to accept ssn?

[max+patricia 24]

We're doing the same thing - "married filing jointly" and attaching a W-7 with documentation. Dpes anyone know - is there anything additional that needs to be done when filing for our state refund? I mean, writing "ITIN applied for" in the SSN field - is that typically acceptable with states as it is for the IRS? Do we need to send a copy of the W-7 from our federal return with the state return - even though the IRS is the one giving the ITIN?

On the issue of the above poster - I'd assume when your case gets thru NVC and you send tax info - you'll probably need W-2's and not just tax transcripts since your transcripts would/could include foreign income from your spouse. I thought about that earlier - someone can correct me if I'm wrong.