IRS / ITIN question tax extension

[ludakrishna 2]

Need advice from tax experts. My local H&R block was clueless. Anyhow, i'm having difficult attaining a "Certified" copy of the passport from the issuing office. My wife went to several passport offices in our state in India and they stated that they are no longer authorized to validate / certify a passport. Thus, getting a ITIN is virtually impossible. If I file married + Joint, i get a $1700+ refund as opposed to filing solely married + separate. My currently thinking is to file for a tax filing extension with the IRS until October 15. I'm currently in Month 2 of my journey and hope my wife will be with me by October. By then, she should have her SSN and I can file married + Joint. Will this work? Essentially delay filing taxes legally and getting more back?

[Saylin 1,605]

Need advice from tax experts. My local H&R block was clueless. Anyhow, i'm having difficult attaining a "Certified" copy of the passport from the issuing office. My wife went to several passport offices in our state in India and they stated that they are no longer authorized to validate / certify a passport. Thus, getting a ITIN is virtually impossible. If I file married + Joint, i get a $1700+ refund as opposed to filing solely married + separate. My currently thinking is to file for a tax filing extension with the IRS until October 15. I'm currently in Month 2 of my journey and hope my wife will be with me by October. By then, she should have her SSN and I can file married + Joint. Will this work? Essentially delay filing taxes legally and getting more back?

A passport isn't the only option to prove foreign status and identity for the W7. There's an entire list in the instructions. Have you thought about using other documents?

[ludakrishna 2]

A passport isn't the only option to prove foreign status and identity for the W7. There's an entire list in the instructions. Have you thought about using other documents?

Yes actually we did. My wife sent her original birth certificate + national ID Card. However, they were lost in the mail. She sent them on November 19th. The package sat in New Delhi until January 4. Delivered to me on the 11th with an empty envelope and the words damaged written on the outside. My experience with sending stuff from India to the US has been extremely disappointing and I don't have any relatives planning on coming to the US anytime soon. Otherwise I would've had them bring it with them.

[The Mean Lady 604]

You don't see why you'd have a valid reason for an extension.

File as Married Separately then when your wife is in the US, amend them to be joint.

[Darnell 8,478]

One version that IS accepted by the IRS ITIN office in Austin, Texas,

is a notarized photocopy of the BIO page of the passport,

notarized by a USA Vice-Consul.

So, you can get that set up, at your favorite USEmbassy/USConsulate, via an ACS appointment (American Citizen Services) .

The USCitizen not need to be there, at all - but be prepared to pay 50 bucks or local equivalent.

You've some time, still, to get this done.

[Love's JAA 100]

Need advice from tax experts. My local H&R block was clueless. Anyhow, i'm having difficult attaining a "Certified" copy of the passport from the issuing office. My wife went to several passport offices in our state in India and they stated that they are no longer authorized to validate / certify a passport. Thus, getting a ITIN is virtually impossible. If I file married + Joint, i get a $1700+ refund as opposed to filing solely married + separate. My currently thinking is to file for a tax filing extension with the IRS until October 15. I'm currently in Month 2 of my journey and hope my wife will be with me by October. By then, she should have her SSN and I can file married + Joint. Will this work? Essentially delay filing taxes legally and getting more back?

yes you can file for an extension, though you have to have paid in what you think you will owe (if any). If your situation is still unsettled in October you can file as married-filing-separately. When you have it resolved you can then file 1040X, an amended return for that year with your status as married-filing-jointly, if you so choose. Be sure to amend your state return as well if you file a state income tax return. You have up to three years from your filing date to amend. So if you file for an extension, you have until October 15, 2016 to amend the 2012 return.

[dwheels76 5,463]

Yes actually we did. My wife sent her original birth certificate + national ID Card. However, they were lost in the mail. She sent them on November 19th. The package sat in New Delhi until January 4. Delivered to me on the 11th with an empty envelope and the words damaged written on the outside. My experience with sending stuff from India to the US has been extremely disappointing and I don't have any relatives planning on coming to the US anytime soon. Otherwise I would've had them bring it with them.

Oh I so feel your pain. I know most thought I was crazy when i posted my misadventures of my documents being sent to me. But trust me postal, FedEx, DHL no matter you run the risk it not ever getting here.

Really sorry. But maybe that scan Bio and validated at embassy may work.

[wantknow 11]

What I did was have my husband sent me certified copies of his passport bio pages, national ID card & BC via snail mail. I did go to my local IRS office to have them check over documents & they offered to mail them for me which reached fast and saved me postage cost. You can get your spouse doc. and mail them your self with tax papers & W7 & certified doc. to the address on the IRS info site. We filed married joint, got the tax ID number in the mail about 4 to 6 weeks later. Bigger refund too Oh I also had my husband print the tax papers, W7 & sign them and send with all his documents. Hope this will help you

[Roosha 51]

I'd just file married separate until your wife arrives in the states and gets her SSN then you can amend the return and still get that money. You're still delaying when you receive the refund if you file for an extension so I think you'd get the money at around the same time.

[The Mean Lady 604]

What I did was have my husband sent me certified copies of his passport bio pages, national ID card & BC via snail mail. I did go to my local IRS office to have them check over documents & they offered to mail them for me which reached fast and saved me postage cost. You can get your spouse doc. and mail them your self with tax papers & W7 & certified doc. to the address on the IRS info site. We filed married joint, got the tax ID number in the mail about 4 to 6 weeks later. Bigger refund too Oh I also had my husband print the tax papers, W7 & sign them and send with all his documents. Hope this will help you

Do you mean notarized or certified?

Because certified means you have to go to the issuing agency of the passport or a US Consulate to get them to make copies.

Prior to this year, this wasn't even a requirement so I'm just surprised you even did that.

Edited January 16, 2013 by KDH

[velrich 50]

Its a notarized copy that you should be sending. Try to find a Notary to get this done.

[The Mean Lady 604]

Its a notarized copy that you should be sending. Try to find a Notary to get this done.

Nononononono.

That rule changed this year.

It must be a certified copy from the issuing agency or a US consulate.

[dirk_diggler 107]

is there any downside to filing "married filing separately" then amending to "married filing jointly" months later (other than delaying your refund)?

[The Mean Lady 604]

is there any downside to filing "married filing separately" then amending to "married filing jointly" months later (other than delaying your refund)?

None. just temporarily you get less of a refund.

[Love's JAA 100]

is there any downside to filing "married filing separately" then amending to "married filing jointly" months later (other than delaying your refund)?

why would you want to file twice? getting an extension is easier.