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New Member
posted May 31, 2019 6:32:39 PM

Cannot file if spouse does not have SSN

I would like to file online (or at least finish my preparations then print my return).  All of my income is foreign and my wife is French so she has no SSN.  Turbotax won't even let me finish my form to print without her SSN, how can I proceed?

1 8 26605
8 Replies
Level 15
May 31, 2019 6:32:40 PM

The forms and schedules for your tax return have not been finalized for either e-filing or printing.  See this TurboTax support FAQ for IRS forms availability - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1908854-irs-forms-availability-table-for-turbotax-individual-perso...

If your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN, then you can only file your tax return as Married Filing Separately.  You will have to print and mail your tax return.

You can ignore the error for the spouse's SS number during the Review.  You should be able to continue past the error message.

Otherwise just enter any number for the spouse SS (try all 9's or even your SS number and change the last 4).  When the Form 1040 is printed then erase or use white-out to remove the spouse SS number and write in NRA (non-resident alien).

New Member
Feb 23, 2020 7:03:35 PM

Where do we mail the tax return?

Expert Alumni
Feb 23, 2020 7:12:44 PM

There will be instructions on where to mail your return when you print out the "forms necessary for filing" if you indicated in TurboTax that you were going to mail in your tax return.

New Member
Feb 23, 2020 7:17:14 PM

Sorry how do I indicate that I will be mailing it?

Expert Alumni
Feb 24, 2020 5:29:20 AM

Please click on the below link:

 

How do I print and mail my return in TurboTax Online?

New Member
Apr 5, 2023 5:55:19 PM

seems like they have removed this functionality this year. I am not able to proceed without entering a valid SSN for my wife. I intend to file for new ITIN for her. 

New Member
May 7, 2023 9:58:13 AM

How can we file this online if my spouse doesn't have a SSN or ITIN as we got married in India and she is an Indian.

Level 15
May 7, 2023 10:06:08 AM


@chandrulib wrote:

How can we file this online if my spouse doesn't have a SSN or ITIN as we got married in India and she is an Indian.


If you are a US citizen or US resident 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 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

 

If you decide to file your tax return as Married Filing Jointly you must apply for an ITIN with the tax return and you would need to be providing a statement with your tax return that you want your Nonresident Alien Spouse Treated as a Resident.  See IRS Publication 54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad page 7 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Go to this IRS website for ITIN information - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/general-itin-information