How to file taxes without a spouse's SS#?

[novedsac 355]

*lol* "You do not -- privacy rights" is about what I expected to hear.

and CNTrav-- I have a lawyer who's pushing $3,700 just for divorce. Heaven forbid I should ask him such a mouth-watering question, I can just imagine the sound inside his head: "ka-ching, ka-ching,"

I'll do as navadesac suggested and file both ways...yes, I'll be forced to file a paper return but at this point I'm not sure what the outcome will be. I do know, for I remember reading it someplace, that most State Courts will generally allow a spouse forced to file "married filing single," who incurs significant cost--to sue the injuring spouse and collect appropriate damages.

Though in this case I might need to collect such damages in bananas....

$3700 all-in? Damn, my divorce cost me about $70k, but it was contested and alimony/child support would have cost me far more over a 12 year period.

You gotta keep your emotions out of it … treat it like a business decision.

NO - I did not suggest you file to IRS both ways - you cannot do this - what I suggested was that you calculate it both ways and determine what the refunds/payments will be and then proceed from there with the goal of minimizing your outflow of cash. But you will need to decide on one filing strategy and follow through with that.

As far as suing for damages go … I would not count on it. Been there. A state judge has no jurisdiction to mandate that federal taxes are filed one way or the other. Additionally, every state that I'm aware of do not allow you to sue your spouse for damages or libel. You can, however, use it as a negotiating tool if you are arguing an equitable distribution of marital assets. I went this route … determined there would be a small refund if the ex signed a joint return which would have amended her previously filed 'married separate' return. I also determined that filing 'married separate' for myself would cost me an extra $32k in additional taxes, penalties and interest. I was prepared to offer her up to $20k to sign the joint return as it still would have saved me at least $12k, but she agreed to my first proposal which was to split the refund with her. I had her convinced that if she did not agree to cooperate then the judge would award me the difference with an additional share of the assets, minimizing what she would get. And because the assets were entirely in tax-advantaged retirement accounts, in order to get $32k out of such an account, it would need to be 44% higher to account for penalties and taxes associated with a non qualified withdrawal. So, it was either going to cost her $46k or she could receive about $4k in refund money. She's not a stupid girl. She agreed.

Most people are interested in money … get your position down to your bottom line and go from there.

Edited February 12, 2014 by novedsac

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

Why is this your third account?

[Ketsuban 1,034]

H&R Block allows you to leave the SSN field blank and will let you provide an answer as to why it's blank.

[Al422 221]

Is this marriage dead? You should see a lawyer about filing a divorce because if she absconds to another country, it will be much more difficult then to rid yourself of her.

[Ketsuban 1,034]

Is this marriage dead? You should see a lawyer about filing a divorce because if she absconds to another country, it will be much more difficult then to rid yourself of her.

If she absconds for long enough, she will have been deemed to have abandoned her green card and thus barred from returning without getting another immigrant visa. So it could turn out to be a good thing if that does happen. It relinquishes OP from the I-864!

OP could then get a divorce in her absence. I've never looked into divorce, but I know that is possible to do even if difficult.