I am a US citizen, wife a Korean Citizen. Living In Korea, Married in 2020. Marriage Unreported in my Home State (MD).

[pbc9051]

We got married here in July 2020. We never had the chance to travel home due to COVID; in the eyes of the court, both Maryland and federal, am I considered Married? 

We have no intention of moving back to the States, I am unsure how to proceed. I understand the options for filing in general (Married Filing Jointly/Separately/Head of the Household), but am unsure if I'm even able to go with any of the options. We do not have any dependents so HotH isn't an option. Emailed the State AG to get their input but was hoping someone here has had a similar situation (married abroad, never reported in the US).

Thanks for your help.

[pk]

@pbc9051  If South Korea recognizes the marriage  then by  convention, US will recognize it. And generally if feds recognize then the states would also do the same.  So not to worry on that front.

Are you still a resident of Maryland or just that was  your last home base?  Are in the  armed forces or are you locally employed?

On filing options ( without any children/dependent), you can file as Married Filing Joint  ( it exposes her income to US taxes , she needs a Tax ID etc.; Married Filing Separate ( in this case her income is  protected from US taxes  and  you just write in NRA in the  box for her SSN/Tax ID).

Do you more details on this ?

[pbc9051]

Thanks for the help. To clarify, do you mean that US will recognize without any further steps that must be taken? I haven't done anything to report my marriage to my home state (MD). I don't live in MD anymore, but that's my home base so to speak. I work for a US DoD Contractor firm and work on an American base in South Korea.

[fanfare]

In the US, you don't report your marriage.

MD will take your word for it, unless a question of fraud or deception  arises.

[pbc9051]

Perfect; thank you!