I have a Non-resident spouse and we both live and work overseas (I'm military). I chose to file separately and not claim her, do I still require an SSN or TIN since she's not working or living stateside yet? Also, I don't care about claiming anything I ju

[rjs · Accepted solution]

If you are filing as married filing separately, and not claiming an exemption for your nonresident alien spouse, you don't need an SSN or ITIN for your spouse. But you will not be able to e-file. You will have to print your tax return and file it by mail because TurboTax will not let you make the necessary entry in place of your spouse's SSN. Leave the spouse SSN blank. Ignore the error in the error check. (Just click Continue when the error check tells you to enter the SSN.) Print your tax return. On the printed return, write "NRA" by hand in the space for the spouse SSN, then file your return by mail.