Can I claim my wife as a dependent if she just got her SSN after moving to US?

Wait, so I can't claim her as a dependent at all? I thought since she has no income and I'm supporting her completely that would make her qualify. Is filing jointly always better than me claiming her as a dependent?

That's a common misconception. The tax code specifically prohibits claiming a spouse as a dependent. Instead, the tax benefit comes from filing a joint return, which generally provides better tax brackets and larger standard deductions compared to filing separately. Filing jointly is almost always more financially beneficial than filing separately in your situation. When you file jointly, you'll get a larger standard deduction ($27,800 for 2025 versus $13,900 for single or married filing separately), plus you might qualify for additional credits that aren't available when filing separately.

Does it work if my spouse doesn't have any US documentation yet? My wife is still waiting for her work permit and SSN, but I need to file soon because of some investment stuff.

I'm kinda skeptical about these tax tools. How does it handle the timing issue? Like if you need to file before the SSN arrives but want to maximize your refund?

The system handles situations with pending documentation really well. It has a specific section for non-resident and resident alien spouses with pending documentation where you can indicate what's still processing. It then gives you options based on your specific timeline and needs. For the timing issue, it actually creates a personalized filing strategy showing when to file, when to extend, and exactly how to handle amended returns if needed. It calculated that waiting for my husband's SSN and filing jointly saved us over $3,200 compared to filing separately and not amending later.

Wait - how does this actually work? I've been trying to get through to the IRS for 3 weeks about my wife's ITIN application. Do they just keep calling for you or something?

Yeah right... there's no way to "skip the line" with the IRS. They barely answer their phones and when they do it's after 2+ hours on hold. Sounds like a scam to me.

They use a system that continuously calls the IRS until they reach a real person, then connect the call to you. It's not "skipping the line" - it's just automating the hold process so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music yourself for hours. The system actually calls you when it gets a human on the line, so you can go about your day instead of being stuck on hold. I was seriously about to miss the filing deadline because of my wife's SSN delay, but after using Claimyr I got connected to an agent who helped us get it resolved within a week.

What if my spouse has an ITIN instead of an SSN? We're not eligible for work permits yet but I heard you can still file with an ITIN?

With an ITIN, you can still file a joint return, which is typically more beneficial than filing separately. Your spouse needs either an SSN or an ITIN by the filing deadline (or extended deadline if you file an extension). If you don't have either yet, you can apply for the ITIN at the same time as filing your tax return by attaching Form W-7 to your return. Just be aware this will delay processing your return until the ITIN is issued. Many people in your situation choose to file an extension to give more time for either the SSN or ITIN process to complete.

That's true but doesn't the spouse still need either an SSN or ITIN to file jointly? You can't file without any identification number at all.

You're absolutely right - even with the NRA spouse election, she still needs either an SSN or ITIN to file jointly. The election just allows her to be treated as a resident for tax purposes, but you can't actually file the return without some form of taxpayer identification number. If the SSN is still pending, applying for an ITIN with Form W-7 attached to the joint return is usually the way to go, though it does slow down processing significantly.