Without your spouse's SSN or ITIN, you won't be able to proceed
to e-file, unfortunately. You will have to paper-file.
It
might be easiest to file Married Filing Separately, then you will not
need to apply for an ITIN for her. If you want to file jointly, you will need
to apply for an ITIN. As a resident , you cannot claim her as your dependent as the new tax law change disallows all the exemptions for dependents. Either way, you won't be able to e-file and must
paper file your taxes. You can still use the program to prepare your tax forms
but submit by mail. Below are the steps how you enter info in the
program. In addition, if your wife is a nonresident and you want to file jointly, you need to attach a special statement to treat her as a resident and file together. See
Nonresident to resident.
To file separately without the SSN or ITIN:
- In the program, leave the SSN space blank
- After completing the return, print out the forms. Write “NRA”
in the spouse's SSN space. ( NRA stands for Nonresident Alien).
Do not leave the space blank.
- Submit all the forms and required documents to IRS based on the
instructions on your print-out.
To file jointly, you basically file and apply for the ITIN
together:
- In the program, leave the SSN space blank
- After completing the return, print out the
forms. Write APPLIED in the spouse's SSN space.
- As TurboTax does not support the Form W-7, fill out the forms by
following W-7 and
attach other required documentation
- Submit all forms and documents to the IRS Austin location
in Texas. (see Form W-7 instructions)
