ToddL99
Expert Alumni

Deductions & credits

For U.S. tax purposes, you are considered a U.S. resident if you meet the substantial presence test for 2020. You meet this test if you were physically present in the United States for at least:

  1. 31 days during 2020; and

  2. 183 testing days during the 3-year period of 2020, 2019, and 2018, as calculated using the chart for Substantial Presence Test

Since your spouse does not have any U.S. income and, presumably, does not want to be treated as a U.S. citizen for tax purposes, you must file a separate return (i.e. Married, Filing Separately).

 

(You can't file single if you were married on December 31, 2020).  

 

Important: You can't prepare and print a tax return in TurboTax without an ITIN or SSN for you, your spouse and any dependents. 

 

The work-around for this situation is to use "Dummy" SSN/ITINs for your dependents. to prepare the return. You can use your own SSN/ITIN with different last numbers.  

 

Or use "305-44-0001, 0002, 0003 etc.", a dummy number we use for training. 

 

This should allow you to get through the Smart Checks and Reviews and print your return for filing by mail. "Erase" or white-out the dummy SSN/ITINs and replace with "NRA".

 

If you do not pass the "Substantial Presence Test", you can file Form 1040-NR. See Does TurboTax handle Form 1040NR for nonresident aliens? for further instructions.