I cannot file my taxes until my husband receives an ITIN. They've rejected it because we didn't include a U.S tax return, but he cannot work in the U.S. What do I do?

[xzanaparson]

My husband and I recently got married this past September. I had no idea we would have to have an ITIN number for him for ME to file. We are filing separately anyway. He has never worked in the U.S and is currently not authorized to work here, so he wouldn't have a U.S tax return anyway. They've rejected us for the number twice. I thought the first time was because I didn't include MY tax return, so I sent it back with mine, but still got the same rejection letter. What do I do? How am I supposed to provide a U.S tax return for him if he isn't working/cannot work? Do I send in his Canadian tax return?

[DoninGA]

If you are a US citizen or US resident and your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN and you are not applying for an ITIN with the tax return then you can only file your tax return as Married Filing Separately.  Where asked to enter the spouse's Social Security number enter 999-88-9999.  You can only print and mail your tax return, it cannot be e-filed.  When you print the tax return erase the Social Security number for your spouse and manually enter NRA for non-resident alien.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the procedure to print and mail a tax return using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1944348-how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online

[xzanaparson]

Thank you SO much! I wish TurboTax would've told me that the first time we got a rejection letter. It would've saved us so much time. Thanks again. 🙂