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Since you are married, your filing status choices are Married Filing Jointly (MFJ) or Married Filing Separately (MFS).
If you choose to file as MFJ – (Your wife will need a Social Security or – if not eligible to get one - an ITIN number), You are making a choice to treat your wife as resident alien for tax purposes; you will get exemption for your wife but worldwide income (yours and hers) is reported on your tax return. You may report her education expenses in Deductions & Credits section.
If you choose to file as MFS – you are making a choice to treat your wife as a nonresident alien for tax purposes. You may be able to claim an exemption for your wife only if she has no income from U.S. sources and cannot be claimed as a dependent on anyone else’s tax return. SS number or ITIN is also required. You cannot report her tuition expenses on your tax return.
You will have to do a paper return because you have to make an election from the choices above that has to be signed.
See this IRS link on how to make the election.
https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/nonresident-alien-spouse
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What happens if you are in this situation and have already filed jointly through TurboTax, but never sent a declaration? Are previous returns not valid?
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