My spouse is not a US citizen and does not have a social security number. Neither of us lived in the US in 2024. What do I enter as SSN for him so I can efile my taxes?

[samyuktas]

I am a US citizen but I lived abroad 100% of the time with my spouse last year. Turbo tax is insisting I provide a SSN for my spouse but he is not a US citizen, and does not even have a tourist visa to visit the US and is ineligible to get a social security number.

[Vanessa A]

You may have to print and mail your return, but first you can try to e-file by taking the steps below.  

Follow these steps to send your return electronically:

1. Prepare your return in TurboTax.
2. On the screen for your spouse’s information enter a name and date of birth. Leave the Social Security number field blank. Select Continue.
3. On the screen Tell us a bit more, check the box My spouse was a nonresident alien at any time during 2024. Select Continue.
4. Continue through the screens bypassing any messages or warnings about the absence of the spouse social security number.
5. Indicate that you would like to e-file your return and follow the instructions in the program to register or pay and transmit your return.

If your return will not transmit, or is rejected, return and follow these additional steps:

1. When you get to the “Let’s get ready to e-file” screen, select File by Mail.
2. TurboTax will continue to give you an error regarding the missing Social Security Number or ITIN for your spouse. Proceed to print with the error but write Nonresident Alien (or the abbreviation “NRA”) in the space for your spouse’s Social Security number before mailing your return.
3. Mail the return to the address on the instruction sheet that prints with your return.