Spouse SSN Filing Issue

[bdr123]

Hello,

My spouse is a Canadian citizen and does not have a SSN or an ITIN. I hired someone to prepare my U.S. tax return, and they are using TurboTax. They have advised me that because she does not have an SSN or ITIN, my only option is to file my return by mail. Could you please confirm whether this is correct?

Additionally, if we are filing separately, do I need to report my spouse’s income on my U.S. tax return?

Finally, the person preparing my return entered my spouse’s Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) in all fields requesting her SSN. Is this appropriate, or should those fields be left blank instead?

Thank you.

[DoninGA]

See this TurboTax support FAQ for how to file when you have a nonresident alien spouse - https://ttlc.intuit.com/turbotax-support/en-us/help-article/tax-credits-deductions/file-taxes-spouse...

If your spouse is attempting to file a US federal tax return, they cannot use their Canadian Social Security number on the federal return.  If your spouse has neither an ITIN or a US SSN then they cannot file a US tax return.

If you are filing as Married Filing Separately, you do not include your spouse's income on your tax return.

[AmeliesUncle]

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@bdr123 wrote:

I hired someone to prepare my U.S. tax return, and they are using TurboTax.

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Unless you are going through TurboTax's full-service program, you should NOT have that person prepare your tax returns.

TurboTax is not licensed for paid tax preparers.  Any paid tax preparer that uses TurboTax does so illegally (both with TurboTax and the IRS) and the IRS calls them a "Ghost Preparer" because they don't sign the return or put their Paid Preparer number on the return.  Run away from such a person.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/be-informed-not-fooled-by-ghost-preparers-and-tax-credit-scams