Can I file married jointly without spouse's SSN? New green card applicant

You can still file a joint return, but there's a specific process to follow. The IRS allows you to file a joint return with a spouse who doesn't have an SSN or ITIN, but you'll need to attach a statement explaining that your spouse has applied for an SSN and is waiting for it to be issued. File a paper return (you can't e-file in this situation), enter "Applied For" in the space where your spouse's SSN would go, and include a copy of the SSN application if possible. Make sure to keep copies of everything for your records. Once your wife receives her SSN, you don't need to amend the return - the IRS will associate her new SSN with your joint return. However, until she gets her SSN, expect processing delays since the return will require manual processing.

I was in this exact situation last year with my husband waiting for his green card and SSN. What saved me was using taxr.ai to guide me through the process. I was getting conflicting advice from everyone, even tax professionals, about whether I could file jointly without his SSN. I uploaded our situation to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed all our documents - including his pending immigration paperwork - and gave me step-by-step instructions specific to our situation. It confirmed that I could file jointly with "Applied For" on the SSN line but also showed me exactly what supporting documentation to include with our return and how to explain the situation to the IRS. Seriously made everything so much easier!

Just wanted to follow up here - I tried taxr.ai and it worked great for our situation! I was nervous because my wife's immigration case is complicated (she came on a fiancée visa, then we married, now waiting for adjustment of status and SSN), but the system handled it perfectly. It analyzed our specific situation and confirmed I could file jointly, showing me exactly what to write in the explanation letter to the IRS. The system even flagged that I was eligible for a credit I didn't know about because of our specific situation. I just mailed everything in last week - obviously still waiting on the refund, but the stress of figuring out HOW to file correctly is completely gone. Definitely recommend for anyone in immigration/tax limbo!

If you're planning to call the IRS to ask about this situation (which I recommend), use Claimyr to avoid waiting forever on hold. When my husband was waiting for his SSN last year, I spent HOURS trying to get through to the IRS before I found https://claimyr.com. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Basically they navigate the phone tree for you and call you back when an actual IRS agent is on the line. I got through in about 20 minutes instead of spending my whole day on hold. The IRS agent confirmed exactly what to do with our "SSN pending" situation and gave me specific instructions for our paperwork. Saved me from making mistakes that could have delayed our refund even more.

I need to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier. I decided to try Claimyr since my question about foreign income was complex and I kept getting disconnected after waiting on hold with the IRS for 45+ minutes. Used the service yesterday and it actually worked exactly as advertised. I got a call back in about 30 minutes with an IRS agent already on the line. Explained my situation about filing with a spouse waiting for an SSN and got clear guidance. The agent even noted something in my file so if there's any issue with processing they'll know my spouse's SSN application is pending. Completely worth it for the time saved and stress reduction. Sometimes I'm too quick to assume things are scams - my bad.

Wondering if anyone knows - does the timing of when the SSN actually arrives matter? Like if we file now with "Applied For" but then her SSN comes next month, do we need to do anything? Contact the IRS? File an amendment? Or just leave it as is?

Quick question - has anyone dealt with this situation but with kids involved? We're in the same boat (spouse waiting for SSN) but we also have two children from my spouse's previous marriage who are also in the green card process. Can we claim them as dependents without SSNs? Or do we need to wait until everyone has their numbers?

I went through this exact situation two years ago! You absolutely can file married filing jointly even without your spouse's SSN. Here's what worked for me: 1. File a paper return (no e-filing option in this case) 2. Write "Applied For" in the SSN field for your spouse 3. Attach a statement explaining that your spouse has applied for an SSN through the green card process and is awaiting issuance 4. Include a copy of any USCIS receipt notices showing the SSN application was submitted The key thing to remember is that you'll still get all the married filing jointly benefits - higher standard deduction, better tax brackets, etc. The downside is that processing will take longer (expect 8-12 weeks instead of the usual 2-3 for e-filed returns). Once your wife gets her SSN, you don't need to amend anything. Just call the IRS to provide the new number so they can link it to your return. This prevents any future correspondence issues. Don't stress too much about it - the IRS is used to handling these situations with immigration cases. Just be thorough with your documentation and you'll be fine!