Nonresident Alien Spouse

[walker1958]

My wife is nonresident alien, and we live in foreign country.  I prepared MFS (married filing separately) return. Turbo Tax will not let me file electronically because she has no social security number. I checked off that she is nonresident alien in her personal information. Surely there is something on the Turbotax program that will allow me to file electronically. 

[Vanessa A]

Did you actually follow the entire way through and ignore the error messages and still hit transmit your return?  If you did not, then try that.

If that does not work, you will have to print and mail your return.

[walker1958]

Yes, I did. It did not let me file electronically. Certainly there has to be an entry in Turbotax that lets me file electronically.  Can you please inquire into this. 

[Vanessa A]

If it does not allow you to transmit and you have followed the instructions, then you will need to print and mail your return.  There is not another option.
See below.  This is the actual instructions.  Some people are able to e-file, others are not. 

If you choose the Married Filing Separately (MFS) filing status, you won’t treat your spouse as a resident for tax purposes, and therefore you won’t include your spouse's income on your return. However, when filing MFS, the Standard Deduction is less than Married Filing Jointly (MFJ), and you lose certain tax credits and benefits you would otherwise be eligible for.

Because a Nonresident Alien Spouse has no Social Security Number, you have the option to:

• Attempt to e-file the return with the Social Security Number field blank, using the instructions below.
• Print your entire tax return, write “NRA” where the spouse's social security number or ITIN should be, and mail it to the appropriate IRS office.
• Print your entire tax return and apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for your spouse which will allow you to easily e-file future returns.  Attach Form W-7 and all required documentation to your paper return. Take the package to a Certified Acceptance Agent, an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center, or mail to the IRS office listed in the W-7 instructions.

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.

[walker1958]

You mention that "Some people are able to e-file, others are not." Maybe you can check what the people that were able to e-file, what additional step(s) they took. If some were able to file, then I'm assuming that it's possible. Please look into it and get back with me. Thank you.

[DaveF1006]

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.

@walker1958 

[Edited 03/11/25|12:30 pm PST]