If I was married at the end of 2019, but divorced now and filing "married filing separately" but don't know my ex's SSN, what should I input?

[blakee98-gmail-c]

My divorce was not finalized until 2020 so I have to file "married filing separately", but it requires my ex's SSN and I do not know that info and can not get it.

[Opus 17 · Accepted solution]

Every divorcing taxpayer has to go through this, every divorce lawyer knows it, and I would be very surprised if the two attorneys couldn’t work it out so that you would get your spouse’s SSN.

If not, you will have to print your return and mail it in, you can’t e-file. You may have to give a TurboTax a fake SSN in order to allow it to proceed to the printing step. Make sure you erase this or cover it with white out before mailing your return. Attached a letter or a written statement to your tax return that explains that you could not obtain your spouse’s SSN, and give your spouse’s name, address, date of birth, at any other identifying information that you do know.

[Carl]

By federal law when a married couple files separate, they are required to provide the SSN of the spouse. If the spouse refuses to provide it, let your attorney handle this. That's what you paid them for.