So irritated.

[SMR 368]

You should definitely report this to the IRS and consider filing some sort of charges. Even though you don't have to physically sign the return, you have to electronically sign the return. That means that you have to do it. If you didn't, and she filed it anyways, that means she 'signed' for you. That is fraud. At a minimum, she is incompetent and needs to be prevented from working as a tax preparer.

[Mina90 134]

I did consider reporting her, but she didn't charge me anything for the amendment. I'm just flustered since it's already stressful enough as it is with everything that's going on, this additional stress is truly not needed.

[CHarvey80 72]

I did consider reporting her, but she didn't charge me anything for the amendment. I'm just flustered since it's already stressful enough as it is with everything that's going on, this additional stress is truly not needed.

Charge you for the amendment?

She is the one that screwed up! How would she have the right to charge you?

[Darnell 8,478]

I did consider reporting her, but she didn't charge me anything for the amendment. I'm just flustered since it's already stressful enough as it is with everything that's going on, this additional stress is truly not needed.

Is possible it's one of your dad's friends?

[rin and john 71]

I just need to vent my frustration.

So, my dad took all my tax info (w2, payments, etc.) and filed taxes FOR me without even asking me for 2012. Ok, even that was okay because he told the tax lady that I have to file MARRIED BUT SEPARATELY. She said ok. I was looking through the tax return today and it says "SINGLE". #######. I am beyond upset. Getting this fixed will be another stress I don't need. Not only did the tax lady mess up my marital status on the taxes, the last 3 pages she attached is not even my taxes! They are of some other couple who filed electronically in 2010 and all their information is now in my hands. I can't believe this. She not only messed up my information, she even gave away some other couple's social security numbers and important information too! WOW!

Since you were married as of 12/31/2012 and your spouse will most likely be here before October 15th, it may have benefited you to file for an automatic extension of six months (to Oct 15th). If your spouse's foreign income is small (less than $105K or so) their income would be excluded from US taxes and you could have filed married filing jointly and increased your return. You may be able to file another amended return when she arrives/obtains her SSN and get more money back.

[X Factor 1,111]

Since you were married as of 12/31/2012 and your spouse will most likely be here before October 15th, it may have benefited you to file for an automatic extension of six months (to Oct 15th). If your spouse's foreign income is small (less than $105K or so) their income would be excluded from US taxes and you could have filed married filing jointly and increased your return. You may be able to file another amended return when she arrives/obtains her SSN and get more money back.

Actually that is not correct. You must be taxed on your spouse's foreign income.

http://www.form1040nr.com/residencystatus.php check at the bottom of the web page.

Example

Simon arrived in the U.S. for the first time on September 1, 2011 with his wife and daughter from his home country, Australia. Simon and his family are L visa holders. Simon is a nonresident alien for U.S. tax purposes in 2011. On a nonresident return, Simon can claim only his personal exemption, and cannot claim exemptions for his wife or daughter. However, Simon and his family can choose to make the First Year Choice election to be treated as residents from the date of arrival. This would make Simon a dual status alien, and Simon could claim a spousal and dependency exemption for his wife and daughter. Additionally, if Simon and his wife choose to make a joint resident return election under IRC Sec. 6013(h), they could file a joint resident return and claim the standard deduction. However, on either a dual status or resident return, Simon would be required to report worldwide income for his (and his wife's) period of residency.

Nonresident Spouse Treated as a Resident

If you or your spouse is a resident for tax purposes at the end of the year, and the other spouse is a nonresident, you can elect to treat both you and your spouse as residents for the entire year. This rule applies even if the spouse who is a resident at the end of the year is a dual-status alien (a nonresident at the beginning of the year). However, if you and your spouse make this election, you are both required to report your worldwide income for the entire year. See The Tax Return for more information.

[rin and john 71]

Actually that is not correct. You must be taxed on your spouse's foreign income.

http://www.form1040n...dencystatus.php check at the bottom of the web page.

Example

Simon arrived in the U.S. for the first time on September 1, 2011 with his wife and daughter from his home country, Australia. Simon and his family are L visa holders. Simon is a nonresident alien for U.S. tax purposes in 2011. On a nonresident return, Simon can claim only his personal exemption, and cannot claim exemptions for his wife or daughter. However, Simon and his family can choose to make the First Year Choice election to be treated as residents from the date of arrival. This would make Simon a dual status alien, and Simon could claim a spousal and dependency exemption for his wife and daughter. Additionally, if Simon and his wife choose to make a joint resident return election under IRC Sec. 6013(h), they could file a joint resident return and claim the standard deduction. However, on either a dual status or resident return, Simon would be required to report worldwide income for his (and his wife's) period of residency.

Nonresident Spouse Treated as a Resident

If you or your spouse is a resident for tax purposes at the end of the year, and the other spouse is a nonresident, you can elect to treat both you and your spouse as residents for the entire year. This rule applies even if the spouse who is a resident at the end of the year is a dual-status alien (a nonresident at the beginning of the year). However, if you and your spouse make this election, you are both required to report your worldwide income for the entire year. See The Tax Return for more information.

It is correct. I said income would be excluded from tax. By filing form 2525 the first $95,100 (I put $105K because I was too lazy to look it up before) of foreign income is excluded from US tax. So the foreign spouse's income is added to the 1040 and then excluded from tax by filing form 2525.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Foreign-Earned-Income-Exclusion

[X Factor 1,111]

It is correct. I said income would be excluded from tax. By filing form 2525 the first $95,100 (I put $105K because I was too lazy to look it up before) of foreign income is excluded from US tax. So the foreign spouse's income is added to the 1040 and then excluded from tax by filing form 2525.

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Foreign-Earned-Income-Exclusion

Sweet that simplifies the tax return and causes our tax refund to increase by about $1700.00

[X Factor 1,111]

There is a very detailed thread on how to file using Turbo tax

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/412125-turbotax-help-for-joint-filing-2012/

[Mina90 134]

I wish I read all these great ideas beforehand. I'm so tied up with work that I barely have time for anything. I will definitely have to figure things out soon. Thanks everyone, great responses!