Applying for ITIN number

[john699]

Hello. Since I am applying for an ITIN for my wife, I understand that I would need to attach form W-7 along with other documents to my federal tax return. However, I want to ask if I would need to attach the same things to my state tax return since they are mailed to 2 different places and I'm afraid the tax center in California would not accept my return if the SSN box is left unfilled. 

[Critter-3]

Step 1 ... attach the federal return ONLY  to the W-7 and mail to the appropriate processing center for the W-7 application (not the other way around).

Step 2  ... put the state on extension since you cannot file it until the ITIN is issued

Step 3 ...  when the ITIN is issued you will file the state return.

[john699]

But in order to request an extension, I would need to fill out the IRS form 4868 since I can't apply for an extension online without my wife's ITIN. I saw the instruction that I can just write ITIN TO BE REQUESTED wherever an ITIN is requested.