My spouse is a non-resident Alien. He has not lived in the US. I know I cannot include him for a deduction, but I need to file jointly. Can I still use tubo tax.

[mytubosnoofie]

Can I file jointly.  He has no income.  I live in AZ.  To get the full amount for the solar installation, I must file jointly.

[Opus 17]

You may be in a tough spot.  In order to file jointly, you must treat your spouse as a US resident for tax purposes, and that means reporting all their worldwide income and paying US tax on it.  There is a deduction or credit for any taxes they paid in a foreign country that should offset some of the double-taxation problem, but I don't know that it will completely offset it.  You may want to test your situation.

If you provide care in your home for a dependent child, and paid more than half the expenses, and your spouse did not live in your home in 2019, you can probably file as head of household and claim the solar credit without needing to report your spouse's income. 

To treat your spouse as a US resident for tax purposes and file jointly, your spouse need an International Tax ID number  (ITIN). You get this by filling out form W-7, the ITIN application, and attach the W-7 and any required proofs to your tax return, and mail it all to the address for W-7 processing.  After the IRS issues the ITIN, they will process the tax return.

[Opus 17]

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@Opus 17 wrote:

To treat your spouse as a US resident for tax purposes and file jointly, your spouse need an International Tax ID number  (ITIN). You get this by filling out form W-7, the ITIN application, and attach the W-7 and any required proofs to your tax return, and mail it all to the address for W-7 processing.  After the IRS issues the ITIN, they will process the tax return.

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To get Turbotax to allow you to print your return, you may have to use a fake ITIN, try 999-88-9999.  Cover it up with white-out before you mail the return.  (You can't e-file this situation.)

I'm also not entirely sure how to get the papers signed by your spouse.  I expect you will need to send the completed forms to your spouse by express service for a signature, then have your spouse express them back to you or directly to the IRS. 

[mytubosnoofie]

First:  Turbo tax does not let me see the standard deduction that was taken for 2019.  My spouse is not eligible for a standard deduction. How do I know TTax did this correctly?  I can't see the return.

Second:  I need to write in NRA for the Tax ID number.  But again, I cannot print out the form to do this.  The program wants me to pay first.  I do not want to pay,  just to find out the return is not correct.

Third:  I do have a completed and signed W-7 application for the TIN.  Is it possible this signature can serve as signature on the 1040?

Thanks for your time.

[Opus 17]

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@mytubosnoofie wrote:

First:  Turbo tax does not let me see the standard deduction that was taken for 2019.  My spouse is not eligible for a standard deduction. How do I know TTax did this correctly?  I can't see the return.

Second:  I need to write in NRA for the Tax ID number.  But again, I cannot print out the form to do this.  The program wants me to pay first.  I do not want to pay,  just to find out the return is not correct.

Third:  I do have a completed and signed W-7 application for the TIN.  Is it possible this signature can serve as signature on the 1040?

Thanks for your time.

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You should read this site and publication 519 from the IRS.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p519.pdf

I believe that if you make the choice to treat your spouse as a resident alien for tax purposes, they are entitled to the standard deduction. However, you may want to seek expert advice.   Also, the choice will automatically continue in the future unless you send in a signed notice to go back to treating your spouse as an NRA.

You can't print a tax return without paying.  Turbotax is "free to start" but you have to pay before you can print or file.  If you could print without paying, then people could file those returns and never pay for the service.  If you purchase Turbotax Desktop version (Mac or PC, as a CD or download for Mac or PC) you can prepare and print as many test and real returns as you want, but of course you have to pay for the program up front.

You don't write "NRA" in the space for your spouse's SSN, you leave it blank or write "ITIN applied for".  Your spouse is not an NRA for tax purposes if you make this election in order to file jointly and claim the credit. 

You may be able to use a power of attorney for your spouse's signature, but I don't think you can leave the tax return unsigned.  Once the ITIN is issued, the tax return is sent to someone else and that person probably won't see the signed W-7.  @Critter what do you think about signing the return?