Hello, I'm an international student. My wife doesn't leave with me and she doesn't have SSN. The tax return form requires her SSN. What should I do?

[borisnazarov]

Hello,
I'm an international student. My wife doesn't leave with me and she doesn't have SSN. The tax return form requires her SSN. What should I do?

[mesquitebean]

@borisnazarov    "Hello, I'm an international student. My wife doesn't leave with me and she doesn't have SSN. The tax return form requires her SSN. What should I do?"

First more info is needed to see if you can use TurboTax or not.  TurboTax can only prepare returns for US residents and "resident aliens for tax purposes."   It cannot prepare Form 1040NR/NR-EZ returns for non-resident aliens, but there is an affiliate partner, Sprintax (one "t"), that can.

To help determine how you are classified for tax purposes, please answer the following questions:

• What country are you from?  
• What visa are you under?
• When did you first come to the USA and what dates have you been here?
• You've already said that you are married.   Is your wife a US citizen?  If not, what country?

Once you answer those questions, I can ask someone familiar with international filing to assist you further.

[borisnazarov]

Thank you for your reply:

• What country are you from?    Russia
• What visa are you under?    F1/OPT
• When did you first come to the USA and what dates have you been here? Since July 2015 till now. I left the country twice this year. I visited Mexico for 3 weeks overall.
• You've already said that you are married.   Is your wife a US citizen?  If not, what country? My wife is not a US citizen, she is Russian citizen and stay in Russia all time.

Thank you,

Boris

[mesquitebean]

@pk   Are you please able to assist this international filer when you are next in the forum?   Thanks!

[pk]

@borisnazarov , following up from @mesquitebean 's interactions with you:

(a) since you arrive on F-1 in 2015, you would have been exempt  status ( i.e. not having to count days present towards Substantial Presence Test) till 12/31/2019.

(b) Therefore  for the year 2019 you were Non-Resident Alien ( NRA).  Your report your income  ( OPT income etc. ) on form 1040-NR-EZ  or 1040-NR  ( most students need only the 1040-NR-EZ form ).  Unfortunately TurboTax does not support this form .  Please use SprinTax  ( TurboTax partner) or tax professional familiar with international filing or check with your school's foreign student office -- they may have people  that can help.  You also can download / fill out and  print, sign, date and mail in the form.  You can download this form from www.irs.gov and search for "form 1040-NR-EZ"

(c) filing status on the form 1040-NR series  is only Single  or Married  ( which still behaves as if the filer is single ).  You also  must itemize -- cannot use standard deduction.  You also have to provide  your passport details and visa details.

Is there more I can do for you ?