Income tax with the spouse still abroad

[akravchenko 2]

Hello all,

I married a Ukrainian citizen in Sept. and she is still living abroad. So, how do I file my income tax this year? I am no longer single, but my wife doesn't have an SSN. So, if I put "single", I heard some people where given questioned about it during immigration interviews. But how I file joint tax return if my wife doesn't have social security number yet?

thanks.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hello all,

I married a Ukrainian citizen in Sept. and she is still living abroad. So, how do I file my income tax this year? I am no longer single, but my wife doesn't have an SSN. So, if I put "single", I heard some people where given questioned about it during immigration interviews. But how I file joint tax return if my wife doesn't have social security number yet?

thanks.

You have two options you need to see which works best for your tax situation 1) married filing jointly (MFJ), or 2) married filing seperately (MFS). For option #1 she needs a SSN, an ITIN, or you write NRA where her SSN goes. You will not be able to e-file, but you claim her foreign income, if any, take the foreign income credit if that country has a tax treaty with the US (Ukraine does) and use her standard deduction to reduce the amount you will owe in taxes. Option #2 is if she makes over the foreign income credit (somewhere around $97,000), then let her file her own US tax return as a NRA, which she does not need to do as she is not a LPR yet, and you file your income taxes listing her a your spouse and again putting NRA for her SSN and again not being able to e-file.

Dave

[akravchenko 2]

Thank you. If I understood you correctly, you're suggesting simply type in NRA (nonresident alien) where SSN normally goes?

I did some digging on my own now and found this article:

https://americansabroad.org/issues/taxation/us-tax-implications-of-a-non-american-spouse/

Looks like they suggest attaching W-7 to the tax return to get the ITIN.

Also, will I be able to claim our child as a dependent?

[Pitaya 2,577]

~Moved from K1 Process to Tax & Finances During US Immigration Forum~

~Inquiry about income tax and foreign spouse, not K1-related~

~ It helps everyone that uses the forum, or is helped by the forum.

[akravchenko 2]

Also, found this document on the IRS site:

For form W-7

http://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw7/ch01.html

If I understood correctly, they want either the original of my wife's Ukrainian passport or a certified copy of it. So, my wife needs to get a certified copy of her passport? Did I understand it right?

Does it have to be translated to English?

[Dave&Roza 748]

Also, found this document on the IRS site:

For form W-7

http://www.irs.gov/instructions/iw7/ch01.html

If I understood correctly, they want either the original of my wife's Ukrainian passport or a certified copy of it. So, my wife needs to get a certified copy of her passport? Did I understand it right?

Does it have to be translated to English?

If you choose this route than yes you need a certified copy and translated into English. With a child, you could file as head of household or claim the child as a dependant.

Dave