Foreign Spouse, no SSN, Living Abroad

[DoninGA]

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@smonahan11 wrote:

I am married filing separate and my spouse is a UK citizen. Why am I required to file by mail? This seems to be something that Turbo Tax can fix. Other tax preparation software packages are able to accommodate this.

Steve

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The field for entering a Social Security number is a numeric field and will not accept alpha characters when the tax return is e-filed to the IRS.  Since the nonresident alein spouse does not have a SS number or an ITIN then NRA must be written in the SS box for the spouse.  This requires the tax return to be mailed to the IRS, it cannot be e-filed.

If you are aware of another tax preparation program that will accommodate alpha characters in the Social Security box and e-file the tax return to the IRS then use that program and not TurboTax.

[skymaster4ever]

I would like to know as well. I mean if i said we are filing separate, then why do i require my spouse info? 

I want to know what software has this issue resolved so i can use them instead. 

[DaveF1006]

This is an IRS requirement when you file Married Filing Separate. One reason being that there are community property states that require spouses to allocate 50 percent of each of their income and half of income generated by community assets, plus all  separate income. Even though you may not live in a community property state, the IRS still requires you to report your spouse's information on your return. This is not a Turbo Tax issue in as much as it is an IRS requirement.

Since your spouse does not have a SSN, then you need to print the return and write in NRA in the place where your spouse's SSN would normally go. Again, this is an IRS requirement that must be complied with. Once the return is printed then it must be mailed to the IRS in accordance with the printing and mailing instructions given by Turbo Tax. 

Please read this Turbo Tax article regarding non-resident spouse tax treatment when filing Married Filing Separately. 

@skymaster4ever

[skymaster4ever]

So then what is the difference between sending this information electronically vs mailing it?

i can manually erase it and send an empty form, but online i can't send the same info? 

That makes no sense. "you need to print the return and write in NRA in the place where your spouse's SSN would normally go": why can't the software take this into account and take NRA where the SSN goes. 

[DaveF1006]

The SSN field in the return requires a numeric format  for the return to be electronically filed. At the present, this field will not accept a alpha format to e-file thus necessitates the need to it leave blank and then write it NRA in where your spouse's SSN would normally go.

Valid SSN's are required for the return to be electronically filed because the IRS matches this information on file with the Social Security Administration. If there is any kind of a mismatch, the return will be rejected if it is filed electronically.

[spaustria]

I have the same issue. Did you ever find a solution besides filing by mail? I really prefer not to file by mail from Austria.

[Critter-3]

There is no way to FIX this situation ... mailing in the return is the only solution available per the IRS rules when someone on the return doesn't have a SS# or an ITIN.

[ksingh]

Hello,

I am having the same situation. Is the explanation applied to Turbo Tax Software (installed version) or the online version? 

Just would like to know whether I need to buy a license and download, or can go ahead with the online version. (Already prepared most information). I am also wondering as the online version does not charge my credit card until I submit the form, so I am not sure where is the step I would choose to file by mail instead.

[HeatherPLO]

Please see the response above by Critter and Dave.  If your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN, you will need to file by mail regardless of the software you purchase.  

@ksingh