MFJ for OPT and USC

[KashaN1 0]

Hello all,

I've read the forums that say to file as married filing jointly I need to make an election at the end of the year to have my husband on an F1 visa treated as a resident alien for tax purposes. Does this mean that we should both mark Married Filing Jointly on our W4s throughout the year? I am unsure, as the W4 says to check Single if spouse is a nonresident alien which he technically is until I make the election--correct? I just don't want to end up with a huge plus or minus when we go to file taxes. 

If it matters, we just got married a few weeks ago and have not filed AOS and won't until after STEM-OPT. 

Edited August 21, 2019 by KashaN1

[Nitas_man 3,100]

On 8/21/2019 at 1:13 PM, KashaN1 said:

Hello all,

I've read the forums that say to file as married filing jointly I need to make an election at the end of the year to have my husband on an F1 visa treated as a resident alien for tax purposes. Does this mean that we should both mark Married Filing Jointly on our W4s throughout the year? I am unsure, as the W4 says to check Single if spouse is a nonresident alien which he technically is until I make the election--correct? I just don't want to end up with a huge plus or minus when we go to file taxes. 

If it matters, we just got married a few weeks ago and have not filed AOS and won't until after STEM-OPT. 

No you want to switch your withholding status at marriage and you make the choice when you file next year’s return