2017 Filing Jointly Turbo Tax Question

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

54 minutes ago, bad4tatt said:

I myself have been here since 2016 but still waiting for my GC and I am still considered a factual resident of Canada.

Directly from the IRS site:

"

You will be considered a United States resident for tax purposes if you meet the substantial presence test for the calendar year. To meet this test, you must be physically present in the United States (U.S.) on at least:

1. 31 days during the current year, and
2. 183 days during the 3-year period that includes the current year and the 2 years immediately before that, counting:
   • All the days you were present in the current year, and
   • 1/3 of the days you were present in the first year before the current year, and
   • 1/6 of the days you were present in the second year before the current year."

[GreenUsa 0]

I want to file tax return electronically, I did it last year with TurboTax but now I have to file as "Married filling separately", my wife does not have SSN or ITIN and TurboTax says that I can't efile in this situation and that I should mail papers with handwrite "NRA" in ITIN filed. 

As I searched H&R Block software has ability to send electronically with blank ITIN filed (NRA), does anyone have experience with this software? Can I do it all (also FBAR) electronically?

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

5 hours ago, GreenUsa said:

I want to file tax return electronically, I did it last year with TurboTax but now I have to file as "Married filling separately", my wife does not have SSN or ITIN and TurboTax says that I can't efile in this situation and that I should mail papers with handwrite "NRA" in ITIN filed. 

As I searched H&R Block software has ability to send electronically with blank ITIN filed (NRA), does anyone have experience with this software? Can I do it all (also FBAR) electronically?

The IRS will reject your return if you try to file electronically with missing SSN.......

[GreenUsa 0]

3 hours ago, missileman said:

The IRS will reject your return if you try to file electronically with missing SSN.......

I meant not miss but fill with "NRA"

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

23 minutes ago, GreenUsa said:

I meant not miss but fill with "NRA"

I don't think the IRS system will accept "NRA"in a numeric field.  Check the instructions for E-file providers under Form 1040 (item 4) " You cannot enter “NRA” on line 3 if your Spouse does not have a SSN or an ITIN. See the Supported Forms and Limitations page. "

 

https://www.irs.gov/e-file-providers/line-by-line-instructions-free-file-fillable-forms

 

I have seen that the HRB software will generate a printed form after a work-around, but I haven't found anything that says it can successfully transmit it. In all likelihood, the HRB software would transmit, but then the IRS E-file system would reject it because it is a set of alphanumeric characters in a numeric field....... just my opinion.

[GreenUsa 0]

So I have to print papers and send them by mail, there is no other way unfortunately as I guess.

Thanks anyway

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

Just now, GreenUsa said:

So I have to print papers and send them by mail, there is no other way unfortunately as I guess.

Thanks anyway

That's what I did for tax years 2015 and 2016.  Unless they have changed the Efile parameters, that is the only way.  This year, I filed electronically.....well, I didn't....My accountant did....With my wife (now having a SSN) having dual tax status, foreign income reporting requirements, and FBAR requirements in 2017.  If you determine that you can, in fact, Efile using "NRA", please let us know......it will be valuable information for others.

[GreenUsa 0]

will do

[markandoliv 3]

On 3/10/2018 at 3:44 PM, missileman said:

1.  You do not have to file jointly.  In some cases, it better to file MFS. 

You also have FBAR and the other reporting forms to consider.  Failure to comply with foreign income, foreign bank accounts, and foreign assets reporting can unpleasant,  I have read.

I chose to hire an accountant to handle it this year.......next year, I will do it.

Hello, Can the form 2555ez form be used instead of the fbar to have my foreign earned income for 2019 excluded/ made exempt?

[Crazy Cat 41,898]

Just now, markandoliv said:

Hello, Can the form 2555ez form be used instead of the fbar to have my foreign earned income for 2019 excluded/ made exempt?

Foreign income exclusion 2555 and the FBAR are 2 separate entities.........and they are filed to different agencies.