Moroccan Spouse, filing taxes jointly

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Has anyone here filed taxes married and jointly with a Moroccan spouse, still in Morocco? If so, what documentation did you use to accompany the W-7? Since Morocco is not a member of the Hague Convention making it easy to get notarized copies, I'm a little confused about exactly who or what agency needs to certify the supporting documents. We would preferably like to use a certified copy of the passport, although if that's too difficult to get, the next choice would be the birth certificate and national ID card, although I suppose those would have to be translated as well as notarized.

If anyone has been through this process and can give specific guidance, I'd appreciate it! I'm making myself blind reading tax instructions.

[msheesha 548]

Sorry can't help. When husband was still in morocco I filed as married but filing single bc of non-resident spouse (or whatever that exact option is)

Hope someone can help; I didn't even realize it was possible.

Sorry can't help. When husband was still in morocco I filed as married but filing single bc of non-resident spouse (or whatever that exact option is)

Hope someone can help; I didn't even realize it was possible.

[MIBEN 83]

I filled jointly when my husband was in Morocco. I was active duty at the time so I took a copy of his passport and the marriage cert translated and the Department of the Army requested a foreign ID number from social security administration. I filled taxes with this number but did not report any monies for him as he was unemployed. In your case you would have to contact your local social security office and request a tax ID number which serves for filling purposes until he is issued a SSN. For any money he earned you can go on to the IRS website and search what has to be reported. I read around and the Morocco Treasury explanation documents covers income received by performance of labor or a service, contracting states, wills, businesses. It all depends how he earned his money what he is required to report as income all this is tied to the fact that he or she is married to a US resident. I say if you don't completely understand tax laws seek help.

Good luck.

Edited May 10, 2012 by MIBEN

[Nasturtium 500]

Hi! I did it with my husband who is from Jordan. Unfortunately, they wanted to see the real IDs. so I took the W7 to the actual IRS and he DHLed me his national ID and his Driver's License I think? I don't think he sent me his passport, but maybe. Anyway, i brought them in and the IRS stamped they ahd seen them/copied them and then gave them back to me. Then i naturally went and immediately sent the stuff back to him.

[New Beginnings 32]

So the first step is to get him an ITIN. This can be done by having him take his passport to the consulate and have it certified. What I did was married filing separately, sent my federal return to TX where the ITINs are processed along with the certified copy of his passport and it delayed the return about 4 weeks if i remember correctly. Is there a reason you would like to file jointly?

[Crossed_fingers 128]

Thanks for the responses, all.

New Beginnings, do you mean he should take his Moroccan passport to the American consulate? I didn't know if they would even let him in the building.

[New Beginnings 32]

Yes, they will allow him in. He needs to have his passport certified by a consulate since Morocco is not part of the Hague convention. It costs like $35 or something close to that. I believe that is still listed on the consulate's website.