The TurboTax system won't let me proceed to file because my wife does not have a social security number.

[Biffhead]

My status is married and filing separately. I live and work abroad. My wife is not a U.S. citizen, doesn't have a social security number, and has no income in the U.S., so she will not file on her own. The Turbotax system won't let me proceed to file because I do not enter a social security number for her and leave the field blank. How can I proceed to solve this problem?

[Critter · Accepted solution]

If you are a US citizen and your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN and you are not applying for an ITIN with the tax return then you can only file your tax return as Married Filing Separately.  

Where you are asked to enter the spouse's Social Security number enter 999-88-9999.  You can only print and mail your tax return; it cannot be e-filed.  When you print the tax return erase the Social Security number for your spouse and manually enter NRA for non-resident alien.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the procedure to print and mail a tax return using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1944348-how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online

[hasstedts]

TurboTax software gurus should simply update the program to allow users to enter NRA, since it's an accepted option per the IRS. Seems like a simple solution to me, and plenty of time before next year's tax season.

[Tenuto86]

It's 2025 and I just ran into this same issue that could have been easily resolved long ago. Extra frustrating since there's so much uncertainty with what's going on in our government right now.

[LindaS5247]

If your spouse doesn't have a Social Security number or an ITIN, and you are not applying for an ITIN for your spouse, you will have to file as Married Filing Separately. 

You can try to e-file your tax return, leaving your spouse's social security number blank. You will first enter your spouse's information  in TurboTax leaving her Social Security number blank and continue to the next screen "Tell Us a Bit More". You will check the box "My spouse was a nonresident alien at any time during 2024" and continue.  

Continue through your screens, ignoring the error messages about your spouse Social Security number.  Indicate that you would like to e-file your return. ‌If you are unable to e-file you will have to print and mail your return per the above instructions.

To print and mail in your tax return, you will write "NRA" (nonresident alien) on your printed return in your spouse's Social Security number box. ‌Instructions for printing and mailing your return are below.

Keep in mind that filing as Married Filing Separately will give you a lower Standard Deduction. ‌You may also lose certain tax credits you would otherwise be eligible for.

If you want to file your tax return jointly with your spouse you will have to apply for an ITIN with your tax return and you will have to make a statement with your tax return, signed by both of you indicating that one spouse is a US citizen and the other is a nonresident alien and that you’re electing that both be treated as U.S. residents for tax purposes. You should include your full names, addresses, and your Social Security number in the statement.

You can use this link to Apply for an ITIN . ‌You will do this using Form W-7.‌ The article has a link to Form W-7. This can't be done through TurboTax. 

You will print and mail in your tax return along with Form W-7. ‌You will write "APPLIED" on your printed return in your spouse's Social Security number box. 

Click here for information on printing and mailing your return.

Click here for additional information on ITINS.

Click here for additional information on US Citizens and Nonresident Aliens abroad.

Click here for additional information on filing your tax return with a Nonresident spouse.