Cannot file if spouse lives abroad and does not have SSN

[xboilermaker]

Without entering a valid ssn, its not letting me proceed to filing. Any help will be appreciated.

I understand, I need to mail my tax return. Can I still use turbotax to generate the tax return forms? If so, where can find the instructions to mail my tax returns (both federal and state) ?

[xmasbaby0]

https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/file-taxes-spouse...

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-spouse

[xboilermaker]

What about NY state return? 

Looks like if the tax is prepared using turbotax, it needs to be filled electronically. However, Filing federal tax by mail automatically prevents me from filing NY state return electronically in turbotax:

https://www.tax.ny.gov/tp/efile/mandate_participants.htm

[SusanY1]

When checking the box "my spouse is a nonresident alien" you should be able to file electronically as long as you are using the Married Filing Separately (MFS) status.  

You will need to continue past the warnings regarding the missing information.  If the return doesn't transmit, or is rejected, you will then need to print. 

When the tax software does not allow for electronically filing of the NY return, the state will accept the printed/mailed return, if you end up needing to mail the return. 

[DoninGA]

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@xboilermaker wrote:

What about NY state return? 

Looks like if the tax is prepared using turbotax, it needs to be filled electronically. However, Filing federal tax by mail automatically prevents me from filing NY state return electronically in turbotax:

https://www.tax.ny.gov/tp/efile/mandate_participants.htm

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Under the NY mandate it states that if the tax preparation software you are using does not support electronic filing you can mail the NY state tax return.

Since the federal tax return was not e-filed, the TurboTax software does not support e-filing of any state tax return.

[xboilermaker]

I did check the box  "my spouse is a nonresident alien". However, Turbotax didn't let me file electronically.  Do I need to attach a letter with NY return explaining when I am mailing the return even if the return was prepared by a software?

Also in my printed federal return, I do not see any option to write NRA (nonresident alien) to indicate my spouse was  a nonresident alien. Turbotax automatically prints her name in the  'Filing Status' section. The only reason I could not e-file was because she didn't have an ssn, and the printed version of 1040 doesn't even have an option to provide the ssn of spouse unless the status is 'married filing jointly'.

Thanks.

[DoninGA]

@xboilermaker On the printed tax return, write in ink NRA in the box for your spouse's Social Security number.

You do not need to include any type of statement for the New York return, for mailing a printed return instead of e-filing.