Filing Tax Return Jointly

[trewq1x 0]

Hi all,

We got married in July, and right before Christmas my wife got her green card. She arrived in to the US on a K1 visa, but she was in the US before as an exchange student (where she got a SSN). 
At this time, my wife is not working, and we want to fill in a joint tax return. Do you know if there are any precautions or rules I need to take into an account filing a joint return? Can we even consider filing a joint return? Before her arrival to the US, she worked in her country.


Thank you
 

[Ksenia_O 696]

On 1/20/2020 at 10:38 AM, trewq1x said:

Hi all,

We got married in July, and right before Christmas my wife got her green card. She arrived in to the US on a K1 visa, but she was in the US before as an exchange student (where she got a SSN). 
At this time, my wife is not working, and we want to fill in a joint tax return. Do you know if there are any precautions or rules I need to take into an account filing a joint return? Can we even consider filing a joint return? Before her arrival to the US, she worked in her country.


Thank you
 

It doesn't matter if your spouse worked or didn't -  you absolutely can file a Joint Return for Tax year 2019. 

You wife's income she earned in her home country has to be reported though, but I'm sure it was within Foreign Earned Income Exclusion amount, which is $105, 900.0 in 2019.

 

Form 2555, Foreign Income Earned can be confusing so you may want to hire a Tax professional. Other than that - not a biggie . 

 

Enjoy the benefits you'll be getting, filing MFJ