I file married filing separately with an NRA wife. I live in France. Is TurboTax well prepared to deal with expat issues? Will the TT experts know about expat issues?

[oiselet]

I tried TurboTax a couple of years ago and I found that the normal staff are not well versed in expat issues.  So, do you have a special department if I need assistance?

[pk]

@oiselet , I cannot comment on your experience of a few years ago.,  However, my  considered  opinion is :

(a) TurboTax  Windows   downloaded / CD version of Home & Business is my favorite for preparing  and filing reasonable complex  returns,

(b) All the forms required for the situation you are describing -- ExPat with NRA spouse living abroad & filing joint or MFS-- are  available  and  Step-by-step questions  works  quite well.  These are not perfect  in some cases but  between the software  and the volunteers/ experts  there are no gaps/ issues in [prep[aring  a correct return.  In specific situations  , can it be improved  ?   Absolutely.  Is it sufficient ?  Yes.

(c) many of  us volunteers  are retired  tax professionals while others are extremely well versed in the use of the software tool.  Thus you have a good support system, if you want to ;prepare  a return by yourself.

(d) obviously there may be areas where  it could have been done better, but this is common  for all DIY  tax prep. software ( geared towards  the uninitiated masses  ).

Full disclosure --- I am a volunteer, do not have any relationship / interest  ( financial or otherwise ) with Intuit / TurboTax, do receive  a free  copy of TurboTax of my choice ( if I request )  and   occasional "de-minimus" gifts but I do  spend ,  hundreds of hours helping  users of TurboTax.   Ny comments above are purely based on my own experience using the product of my choice

Is there more I can do for you ?

[Critter-3]

If you are a US citizen or US resident and your spouse does not have a Social Security number or an ITIN and you are not applying for an ITIN with the tax return then you can only file your tax return as Married Filing Separately.  Where asked to enter the spouse's Social Security number enter 999-88-9999.  You can only print and mail your tax return, it cannot be e-filed.  When you print the tax return erase the Social Security number for your spouse and manually enter NRA for non-resident alien.

See this TurboTax support FAQ for the procedure to print and mail a tax return using the online editions - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1944348-how-do-i-print-and-mail-my-return-in-turbotax-online

If you decide to file your tax return as Married Filing Jointly you must apply for an ITIN with the tax return and you would need to be providing a statement with your tax return that you want your Nonresident Alien Spouse Treated as a Resident.  See IRS Publication 54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad page 7 - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Go to this IRS website for ITIN information - https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/general-itin-information