Accidentally filed 2018 taxes as single, still ok?

[Gaiden79 14]

Hi guys, I'm the US Citizen spouse and i accidentally filed my 2018 taxes as single. I married my wife in the Philippines in 2017. Would this cause any issues with immigration? 

 

I realized later that I can put my foreign wife on the return. How do I even do that? What's the best way? I have to file my 2019 tax return now. Thanks! 

[igoyougoduke 1,656]

you amend your 2018 Tax return. 

[payxibka 10,045]

If you do its informational only 

[Gaiden79 14]

Just now, payxibka said:

If you do its informational only 

Really? Would it affect anything to leave it as is? It should have been "married filing separately" right? Thanks a lot. 

[payxibka 10,045]

Just now, Gaiden79 said:

Really? Would it affect anything to leave it as is? It should have been "married filing separately" right? Thanks a lot. 

MFS and single tax rates are the same 

[Gaiden79 14]

6 minutes ago, payxibka said:

MFS and single tax rates are the same 

Yeah I saw that you answered someone else's question with that. Not really relevant for immigration purposes then? Thx

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

2 minutes ago, Gaiden79 said:

Yeah I saw that you answered someone else's question with that. Not really relevant for immigration purposes then? Thx

Not in the Philippines. There are other countries where you need a lot of proof and taxes filed as single though you're claiming to be married by that time could raise eyebrows.

[payxibka 10,045]

1 minute ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Not in the Philippines. There are other countries where you need a lot of proof and taxes filed as single though you're claiming to be married by that time could raise eyebrows.

Source?

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

filing separate or single is same return but joint is worth going thru the process for 2019

you can also amend 2018 with a 1040x

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse#:~:text=If your spouse is a,security

 

this requires a paper filing as online apps don't have the W7 for the ITIN

also , if the alien has any foreign income ,  fill out the 2555 to exclude $105,000 and under

[Quarknase 1,072]

I’d recommend to amend 2018 simply because it was filed wrong with IRS.

 

You could possibly get a higher return by filing MFJ and applying for ITIN for the foreign spouse, but you would need the W7 signed by spouse, a certified passport copy, and returns need to be signed by both as well. Instructions how to file taxes along with ITIN application are on the IRS website.

[pushbrk 12,883]

1 hour ago, Gaiden79 said:

Hi guys, I'm the US Citizen spouse and i accidentally filed my 2018 taxes as single. I married my wife in the Philippines in 2017. Would this cause any issues with immigration? 

 

I realized later that I can put my foreign wife on the return. How do I even do that? What's the best way? I have to file my 2019 tax return now. Thanks! 

No, it will not cause issues with immigration, but you will want to amend your tax return at some point.

[pushbrk 12,883]

18 minutes ago, Quarknase said:

I’d recommend to amend 2018 simply because it was filed wrong with IRS.

 

You could possibly get a higher return by filing MFJ and applying for ITIN for the foreign spouse, but you would need the W7 signed by spouse, a certified passport copy, and returns need to be signed by both as well. Instructions how to file taxes along with ITIN application are on the IRS website.

You mean a higher/bigger "refund".  Common misuse of terms to call a refund a return.  Some tax "returns" indicate the filer is due a "refund".

 

I filed as single and waited to file Married Jointly until my wife was here and had a SSN.

[Quarknase 1,072]

1 hour ago, pushbrk said:

You mean a higher/bigger "refund".  Common misuse of terms to call a refund a return.  Some tax "returns" indicate the filer is due a "refund".

 

I filed as single and waited to file Married Jointly until my wife was here and had a SSN.

Yes! Thank you for the correction. I have most immigration terminology down by now, but American tax vocabulary not so much (yet) as it seems 😁

 

I filed MFJ and we applied for my spouses ITIN this year and now regret it deeply since the package has been sitting in the IRS mail room since March...

[MJY 13]

12 hours ago, JeanneAdil said:

filing separate or single is same return but joint is worth going thru the process for 2019

you can also amend 2018 with a 1040x

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse#:~:text=If your spouse is a,security

 

this requires a paper filing as online apps don't have the W7 for the ITIN

also , if the alien has any foreign income ,  fill out the 2555 to exclude $105,000 and under

 

So if my spouse (cr1 visa) has income last calendar year all of that would be excluded as long as it's under 105k?

 

Also, did you attach all three documents together for manual submission?

 

W7

1040

2555

[JeanneAdil 6,505]

i did mine from the beginning and had IRS transcripts with the exclusion form 2555 and the W7 and copy of his passport and marriage certificate as instructions say (for the proofs of marriage -there is a list on the IRS site for documents they deem satisfactory)

 

My spouse did not get any proof of income,  i just stated the amount

 

you don't have to do joint / u can do married separate /your choice

 

just remember when spouse comes to notify IRS that the ITIN has changed to the  new  SS# when her card comes

Edited June 17, 2020 by JeanneAdil