I can't file without entering my SSN despite not having one

[BakaTakasugi]

I am an international student eligible as a resident for tax purposes. I am going to apply for an ITIN this year, and thus I need to file my taxes by mail. However, TurboTax Free won't let me print or "file" unless I enter my SSN, which I don't have. What should I do next?

[tmjansma]

You have to apply for a SSN.  Hopefully you haven't been getting a paycheck without a SSN, otherwise your employer is breaking the law.  They have to have a SSN from you to pay the government the taxes they have withheld from you.  If you haven't been getting wages, you have no need to file taxes.

[BakaTakasugi]

As much as I wanted to have a social security number, I can't have one. I am not eligible. I am only a resident for tax purposes. I am a full time international student studying in the US and even though I don't have a job at the moment, I still need to file my taxes to the federal government so they know I don't have a job or any income...I used to be able to file nonresident tax through Sprintax, but since I have been here for over six years now, that is no longer an option for me.

[DanielV01 · Accepted solution]

Since you are filing by mail, there is a TurboTax workaround.  TurboTax does not support Form W-7, which is the ITIN application form.  You will need to download that form from the IRS website directly.  

To prepare the main portion of the return in TurboTax (minus the Form W-7), you can enter a "dummy social" like 999-88-9999.  You will print out your tax return, white out this dummy social on any Form that it appears, and write:  ITIN Applied in that space.  Then you can attach the Form W-7 and your supporting documentation to the return.