Married in 2017. Now divorced. I know I have to file as Married filing Separately but need my ex SS# and don't have it. We don't talk. How can I file?

[chas_arm]

Got married in 2017, divorced in January 2018.  We never filed a joint return, so I cannot refer back to that. It was a very acrimonious divorce and we do not speak to each other.  He has already filed Married filing Separately so I know I have to do the same.  Looking for a way to manually file my taxes without his SS#, since I read the FAQ and realize that I would have to have it to file electronically.

[Carl]

Since the ex is legally required to provide at (same as you are required to provide yours to the ex) you have two avenues here.

 - Let your lawyer handle it. Generally a phone call from the lawyer is all it takes, once they realize they can go to JAIL for refusing to provide that which is legally required.

 - Print, sign and mail your tax return. In the space for the ex's SSN write the word REFUSED, and when the IRS gets finished with the ex, they'll be begging for 90 days of jail time. 🙂