My wife and I married in early 2020. Her J1 visa expired on March 31, 2020, but she was legally able to remain in the U.S. due to a pending adjustment of status application. Therefore, for the year 2020, she was in the United States from 1/1/2020 - 3/31/2020 under a J1 visa, and from 4/1/2020 - 12/31/2020 as an applicant with a pending adjustment of status application. From what I understand, for tax purposes she was a dual-status alien in 2020 (nonresident alien from 1/1/2020 - 3/31/2020 and a resident alien from 4/1/2020 - 12/31/2020 via substantial presence). She also had a valid SSN eligible for employment before 2020 ended, and received $0 in EIP for the first two rounds of stimulus in 2020.
I am a U.S. citizen. If we elect to file jointly in 2020 and treat her as a resident alien for all of 2020, will she be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit?
Yes, she can qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit since she met the Substantial Presence Test in 2020 (became a resident for tax purposes) and has a valid SSN for employment.
To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit in TurboTax, please follow these steps:
Yes, she can qualify for the Recovery Rebate Credit since she met the Substantial Presence Test in 2020 (became a resident for tax purposes) and has a valid SSN for employment.
To claim the Recovery Rebate Credit in TurboTax, please follow these steps: