Tax Season is here

[Annie0913 39]

Hello, I married my husband Feb 2017 and we are at the NVC stage of our process. 

 

I normally file my own taxes on freetaxusa. So I put it in as “married, filing separately” but it asks for my husbands SSN and it doesn’t let me get past that page unless I put in a SSN. He obviously doesn’t have one yet so how should I file exactly. I know I definitely don’t want to file as “Single” so how do I get past the page without him having a SSN yet.

Or should I just cough up the money and go to H&R Block since this is a little tricky situation? 🤯

[NikLR 13,220]

~~moved to taxes and finances from IR1/CR1 process and procedures.~~

[Liam2021 557]

If you filling MFS, you have to print it out, put N/A for SSN and mail it.

[Meisha&Jake 869]

Hello, me & my husband are in the exact same situation as you

 

Following the thread for information 

 

Thank you!

[NikLR 13,220]

H&R block will mess you up more.  Don't bother

[SM&RM 196]

37 minutes ago, Annie0913 said:

Hello, I married my husband Feb 2017 and we are at the NVC stage of our process. 

 

I normally file my own taxes on freetaxusa. So I put it in as “married, filing separately” but it asks for my husbands SSN and it doesn’t let me get past that page unless I put in a SSN. He obviously doesn’t have one yet so how should I file exactly. I know I definitely don’t want to file as “Single” so how do I get past the page without him having a SSN yet.

Or should I just cough up the money and go to H&R Block since this is a little tricky situation? 🤯

You could file as Head of Househould or apply for an ITIN for him. https://www.1040.com/tax-guide/faq/can-a-married-person-claim-the-head-of-household-filing-status/

Edited January 19, 2019 by SM&RM

[George & Roth 1,485]

You could always finish it with freetaxusa by putting in 111 11 1111. Print it to pdf and edit the numbers out of the pdf

 

 

[Ahmed&Freda 628]

3 hours ago, Annie0913 said:

Hello, I married my husband Feb 2017 and we are at the NVC stage of our process. 

 

I normally file my own taxes on freetaxusa. So I put it in as “married, filing separately” but it asks for my husbands SSN and it doesn’t let me get past that page unless I put in a SSN. He obviously doesn’t have one yet so how should I file exactly. I know I definitely don’t want to file as “Single” so how do I get past the page without him having a SSN yet.

Or should I just cough up the money and go to H&R Block since this is a little tricky situation? 🤯

You have to file by paper and mark NRA in the SS area.   Unless you get an ITIN from the link above.

 

[aaron2020 11,651]

2 hours ago, SM&RM said:

You could file as Head of Househould or apply for an ITIN for him. https://www.1040.com/tax-guide/faq/can-a-married-person-claim-the-head-of-household-filing-status/

Filing as HOH requires having a dependent.  OP has not mentioned any dependents.  

[aaron2020 11,651]

Here are your choices.

MFS - you will pay more in taxes than single.

 

MFJ - He volunteer to be treated as a US resident.  Apply for an ITIN.  His foreign income is counted.  You will need to do this by paper.  Generally, if his income is minimal, you will pay less in taxes than single.

[SM&RM 196]

29 minutes ago, aaron2020 said:

Filing as HOH requires having a dependent.  OP has not mentioned any dependents.  

The qualifications for filing for HOH were attached in a link for the filer to make the determination on wether she qualifies for HOH as a married individual. Just an option if she qualifies. https://www.irs.gov/individuals/how-do-i-apply-for-an-itin

Edited January 19, 2019 by SM&RM

[Kyle&Kathleen 0]

I will be filing as HOH as I have a son.  My wife is NRA and has not been here oto the USA. can I just write in "NRA" on the SSN line as we do not have an ITIN number, we are at 160 days processing so sending her passport is not an option, and who knows when the IRS will open up the Austin office to process the ITIN anyways.

[NikLR 13,220]

On 1/21/2019 at 11:12 AM, Kyle&Kathleen said:

I will be filing as HOH as I have a son.  My wife is NRA and has not been here oto the USA. can I just write in "NRA" on the SSN line as we do not have an ITIN number, we are at 160 days processing so sending her passport is not an option, and who knows when the IRS will open up the Austin office to process the ITIN anyways.

Yes but you have to mail the tax return vs efile. 

[junkmart 320]

On 1/18/2019 at 7:37 PM, NikLR said:

H&R block will mess you up more.  Don't bother

Based on your experience? I have had good experiences with HR Block, although I normally self file.

 

I'll add that when I've gone to HR block, I've already filled out all the forms and figured all the taxes prior, so I just double check that they are correct. I only used them when I had to include a W-7 with my return. I wouldn't trust anyone without double checking their work myself.

 

Edited January 29, 2019 by junkmart
Added infomation

[NikLR 13,220]

1 hour ago, junkmart said:

Based on your experience? I have had good experiences with HR Block, although I normally self file.

 

I'll add that when I've gone to HR block, I've already filled out all the forms and figured all the taxes prior, so I just double check that they are correct. I only used them when I had to include a W-7 with my return. I wouldn't trust anyone without double checking their work myself.

 

Based on my husband's experience and mine the first year I was here. 

Normally H&R block is fine.  I've used them for my taxes when they're fairly simple.   But when it comes to trying to do taxes with a non-resident alien, they often will tell the USC to just file as single because you can't e-file with NRA or all zeros in the SSN spot. That in turn leads to the people on here going "OMG OMG I FILED TAXES AS SINGLE BUT I'M MARRIED BECAUSE THE TAX PERSON SAID TO..." .... trust me... lol

You're one of the few people that probably does everything themselves and then goes to a tax preparer.