Married in 2018, L2 spouse traveled to US in 2018 and not working. How to file tax returns jointly and get ITIN for L2 spouse?

[LinaJ2018 · Accepted solution]

If you are a US resident for tax purposes, you can file jointly with your nonresident spouse.  However, without your spouse's SSN or ITIN, you would not be able to e-file.  You basically are going to file your 2018 taxes and apply for the ITIN together.  Here is how you do it:

• In the program,  leave the SSN space blank
• After completing the return, print out the forms. Write APPLIED in the spouse's SSN space.
• As TurboTax does not support the Form W-7, fill out the forms by following  W-7 and attach other required documentation
• Submit all forms and documents to the IRS Austin location in Texas.  (see Form W-7 instructions)