Joint tax with foreign spouse

[JK1880 4]

Hello all,

 

I am US Citizen and my wife is in her home country. This year I made $35000 in US. On the entire one year my wife just worked for 1.5 month and made around only $200 in cash in her country. When I filed I130 I disclosed she is employed because I filed I-130 in same month she joined job but she quitted her job in 1.5 month.

 

When I file joint tax return do I need to include her $200 in my tax return or can I just skip that and mark as unemployed because she just made just $200 in entire year. I know this is small thing but I dont want to be this an issue down the line in NVC and at US embassy when they ask about her employment and not being added her $200 in my tax return. Please suggest.

Edited March 2, 2019 by JK1880

[Wuozopo 4,293]

1 hour ago, JK1880 said:

Hello all,

 

I am US Citizen and my wife is in her home country. This year I made $35000 in US. On the entire one year my wife just worked for 1.5 month and made around only $200 in cash in her country. When I filed I130 I disclosed she is employed because I filed I-130 in same month she joined job but she quitted her job in 1.5 month.

 

When I file joint tax return do I need to include her $200 in my tax return or can I just skip that and mark as unemployed because she just made just $200 in entire year. I know this is small thing but I dont want to be this an issue down the line in NVC and at US embassy when they ask about her employment and not being added her $200 in my tax return. Please suggest.

 

I don't think the NVC or embassy will be looking to see if you filed taxes correctly. They aren't IRS agents. They just want to see how much income you make.

 

The correct way to file taxes jointly is report ALL the income...hers and yours. She can't be a joint filer without a SSN or ITIN. She is not a resident alien so can't file jointly unless you both sign a statement electing for her to be treated as a resident alien for tax purposes to include with your return. (That is allowed when married to a US citizen).  The information about what needs needs to be in the statement is in Publication 519 found on the IRS website. You can't efile because the signed statement you write is not available in efile forms, Do you already have an ITIN for her? 

 

Or you can file Married Filing Separately and after she arrives on her visa and gets a SSN, you can amend your tax return to filing jointly and collect a refund.

Edited March 2, 2019 by Wuozopo