File taxes and get ITIN - no income

[magnumpl]

Hello.
My spouse did not have any income in USA yet. She is a resident for tax purposes. She wants to get an ITIN but to do that she needs to file a tax reurn, she has a W7 filled out and a certified passport copy. How to file the tax return do I just need to fill out 1040EZ form with $0's? Can she just pay any amount of money or she does not have to pay anything and still get the ITIN? What year should she file 2015 or 2016?

[Critter]

Are you going to file a joint tax return?   Did she have any income from any worldwide source?

[magnumpl]

No right now she is going to file separate tax return to get the ITIN but we will probably file jointly when it comes to my tax return.
No she did not have any worldwide income since she got to USA.

[Critter · Accepted solution]

She cannot file a zero return to get the ITIN.  

You can get the ITIN when you file a joint tax return ...

To get an ITIN, what you will do is complete the return, and print it out. To print without a SSN where hers would go, when you get the message that says "There are errors in your return. Continue?" If you click Yes it will print. If that does not work you may have to enter a made-up SSN and then white out or cross it out once you print it. You will NOT e-file your return, you will select that you are mailing it.

You will also print out a form W-7 and gather any of the required documentation, put that together with your return, and mail it to the specified address. The IRS will then process your return and issue your wife an ITIN.

Here is more information on the ITIN and the process: https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/General-ITIN-Information

[magnumpl]

Thank you for your reply.
What if she needs the ITIN as soon as possible? Is there any other way for her to file tax return? Actually she had some undocumented income for helping our friends with something does that count? And will I be able to file jointly in the end of the year if she would file right now separately?

[Critter]

You cannot file the 2016 tax return until next January.  The only thing an ITIN is used for is filing a tax return so if she has no reason to file a 2015 return she doesn't need the ITIN.

Read the rules here : <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/individuals/general-itin-information">https://www.irs.gov/individuals/general-it...>