Foreign Spouse in Tax Return?

[somedude 6]

My accountant says recommends me to file Married Filed Jointly and write down APPLYING for my wife's SSN. He says that is what he does for his other clients who immigrating foreign spouses. A little research says I need a W7, signed statements, etc. Is my accountant wrong? Or his clients have just been lucky and the IRS doesn't always check them?

For her income (she's from China) do I need some sort of proof of her income?

[Darnell 8,478]

uhm - the w-7 id requirements changed up recently.

IMO, your accountant is dead wrong.

for her income - review the F2555.

[jkelly07 120]

there are several ways to file as maried jointly in 2012 your wife is overseas down load the w-7 from the IRS.GOV you sign iT proper ID copy of both passports a copy of your marriage certificate,file your 1040 tax you both need to sign it.write a letter telling the IRS that the two of you elect for you to be treated as a resident alien for tax purposes both of you sign and date,on the 1040 for your spouse put NRA in place of the social security number, make three copies one for you one for your spouse one for IRS then go to a IRS OFFICE in your area give your file to the clerk she will stamp your file as proof that you filed,they will send it to austin tx you will get a paper refund, read the instructions with the w-7.

[somedude 6]

I will look into the F2555 right away.

jkelly you said there are several ways but I am unsure if you mentioned one way divided into steps, or you just have the different methods separated by commas. Thanks for the help and clarification.

[Darnell 8,478]

somedude - i've a response on 'how to do' recently, have you seen it ?

[Darnell 8,478]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/412414-2012-taxes/page__view__findpost__p__5954436

[somedude 6]

It seems like a lot of trouble. I have low income (already have cosponsor) so I wouldn't get a bigger refund with her as my dependent. And with her income I probably would have to pay money. And some tax credits require SSN and cannot use a ITTN. Her interview hasn't been scheduled yet but it should be in a few months. I am assuming she will get a SSN very quickly after entering the US.

And that topic you linked to said, filing married separately and waiting until spouse arrives and switching to filing married jointly after getting proper SSN is probably not a problem.