MarilynG
Expert Alumni

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Yes, you can file as Married Filing Jointly, but you will need to mail your return.  Yes, you do have to use a 'dummy'  SSN to get the return to print, then white out/cross out the dummy number. You could write 'Green Card Pending'  for your SSN before mailing. 

 

Even if you are considered a Resident Alien for tax purposes, you still need an SSN/ITIN to Efile. 

 

If you applied for an SSN with your green card application, you probably don't need to attach Form W-7.

 

Here's more info on Green Card Application. 

 

Since you had no income in 2021, however, your spouse could file as 'Married Filing Separately.'  Use the 'dummy' SSN to print your return and again white out/cross out the SSN and write 'NRA'  or 'Green Card Pending' for your SSN. It wouldn't make any difference in processing the return in this case what you write, though 'NRA' is the accepted format. 

 

In either case, you need to mail your return.  The SSN field will only accept valid SSN/ITIN numbers for Efiling, so see which filing status gets you the better tax refund. 

 

Click this link for more info on Tax Tips for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens

 

 

 

@1rlb

 

 

 

 

 

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