Taxes!

[H&I 6]

Hi everyone! My husbands visa was approved but he is in "Internal" AP.... whatever that is... They say it's mandatory...it's done within the embassy... and not to worry... now it's time to do taxes... I filed as married.... then they ask for his SS number... which obviously we don't have..... should I file single... would that be honest in my circumstances??

[pushbrk 12,898]

Hi everyone! My husbands visa was approved but he is in "Internal" AP.... whatever that is... They say it's mandatory...it's done within the embassy... and not to worry... now it's time to do taxes... I filed as married.... then they ask for his SS number... which obviously we don't have..... should I file single... would that be honest in my circumstances??

Since they have his passport, you can't get an ITIN. You could file as married filing separately. What I did was to file as single and then file an amended return after my wife arrived. Our IRS employee member(s) may tell you that's a big no no, but I've never seen any consequences paid in the many times I've known of it being done. Evidently, an IRS agent doing so would be likely to lose their job. The rest of us. evidently, not so much.

To file married separately, you'll need to do it on paper instead of electronically.

Edited February 15, 2012 by pushbrk

[H&I 6]

Since they have his passport, you can't get an ITIN. You could file as married filing separately. What I did was to file as single and then file an amended return after my wife arrived. Our IRS employee member(s) may tell you that's a big no no, but I've never seen any consequences paid in the many times I've known of it being done. Evidently, an IRS agent doing so would be likely to lose their job. The rest of us. evidently, not so much.

To file married separately, you'll need to do it on paper instead of electronically.

Thank you pushbrk for your advise... it has been very helpful.. Stay happy!

[USArmyWifey 2]

I am unable to get an ITIN also, we have been told it is possible to extend the deadline by 6 months so we can do taxes once i have recieved my SSN. It may not be an option if you need the money right away but if you dont then it seems a lot less hassle to do it that way.

[pushbrk 12,898]

I am unable to get an ITIN also, we have been told it is possible to extend the deadline by 6 months so we can do taxes once i have recieved my SSN. It may not be an option if you need the money right away but if you dont then it seems a lot less hassle to do it that way.

That works too. In my case, I used that tax return to pay for my second trip to China, then a few months later got a couple hundred more back when I filed the amended return.

[lubnajavid 20]

in the same boat almost - dont want to leave my wife without her passport - have a "certified" copy of the passport pages on its way by mail to me - if the people at the local IRS office agree to that = i'll file married/jointly.

If not - i will file for the extension - first in my entire time here in the US - since 1998

Then i will pursue the married/separatel

when we get together her... not if - WHEN - i will file an ammended return - you have upto 3 or 4 years to do that - not sure about whether its 3 or 4 - so dont quote me on that part - but the rest is valid.

As for her wages - she doesnt earn that much when converted to USD - so i do plan on showing her income and treating her a resident alien for tax purposes only in 2011.

I think it will go a LONG way with the embassy when the interview finally comes around to show co-mingling etc.

Also - i do plan on keeping a copy of all this for the interview book too - just so that they can see the tracks...

[sheeshkabelle 153]

You can file as married filing separately, or file as Married/ head of household then amend your returns, or get an extension.

For the past two years I have filed as married/ head of household and haven't had to provide an SSN for my husband.

[H&I 6]

Thank you all for your comments and advise...I have some new info that may help any of you in this situation...After spending an hour on the phone with the IRS...(who were quite kind in helping)...and I got passed to several different specialists to help me... the lady told me if you use an online site like turbotax... that you file Married filing separate... you can not (efile) your return so you print it out. In the place that you put your spouses SS# you will write NRA and sign and date it.. and send it in. This is for Federal and State returns.

[lubnajavid 20]

H&I: thanks for the update - i do have some customer service numbers i was given - apparently the IRS has an international department - i'll dig them out and post them here in case anyone else wants to use them too.

Was given them by my local IRS office when i went in for help with the W-7

[H&I 6]

H&I: thanks for the update - i do have some customer service numbers i was given - apparently the IRS has an international department - i'll dig them out and post them here in case anyone else wants to use them too.

Was given them by my local IRS office when i went in for help with the W-7

and thank you... I got transferred to a lot of different departments to deal with our circumstance.. but they were really kind and helpful....

[pushbrk 12,898]

and thank you... I got transferred to a lot of different departments to deal with our circumstance.. but they were really kind and helpful....

So all that work and you find out exactly what I told you in the first reply to your question. Check out post #2 in this thread.