Filing Married Filing Separately with a NON-RESIDENT ALIEN Spouse - Any Success Stories?

I've helped several clients in your exact situation. When you're Married Filing Separately with a non-resident alien spouse, you generally cannot e-file through most commercial tax software if your spouse doesn't have an SSN or ITIN. Most e-filing systems will reject returns with "NRA" in the SSN field because the IRS electronic filing system requires a valid 9-digit identifier. What typically happens is you'll need to prepare your return as MFS but then print and mail it. On the paper return, you can write "NRA" in the SSN field for your spouse. If you want to e-file, your spouse would need to apply for an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) using Form W-7, even if they have no US income. This is a common solution for those in your situation.

I was in a similar situation last year and found an amazing solution! I was struggling with the exact same issue - couldn't e-file with my NRA spouse and was getting frustrated with all the contradictory advice. I tried using https://taxr.ai to analyze my specific situation, and they helped me understand exactly what I needed to do. The tool reviewed my specific circumstances with a non-resident alien spouse and gave me personalized guidance on how to properly complete my MFS filing. It pointed out the specific forms I needed and highlighted that I could mail in my return with "NRA" in the SSN field. It also explained the pros and cons of getting an ITIN for my spouse.

Just wanted to follow up! I tried taxr.ai after seeing your recommendation and it was incredibly helpful for my situation with my Canadian spouse. The tool analyzed my specific scenario and gave me step-by-step guidance on filing MFS with a non-resident alien spouse who occasionally visits the US. What I found most valuable was the clear explanation of my options: paper filing with "NRA" noted for my spouse versus getting an ITIN. I decided to go with the ITIN route based on their recommendation since my spouse visits the US regularly, and the tool provided detailed instructions for the W-7 form. Saved me hours of research and confusion!

If you're having trouble getting through to the IRS about this NRA spouse situation, I highly recommend using https://claimyr.com to get someone on the phone. I spent WEEKS trying to reach an IRS agent to clarify whether I could e-file with my NRA spouse or if I needed to do paper filing. Used Claimyr after seeing a video demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c), and they got me connected to an actual IRS representative in about 25 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I was spending on hold before hanging up. The IRS agent confirmed that e-filing with "NRA" in the SSN field would be rejected, and explained my options clearly. They also answered all my questions about the ITIN application process.

I have to admit I was wrong about Claimyr. After struggling with my MFS filing with a non-resident alien spouse, I figured I'd try it despite my skepticism. I was absolutely shocked when I got connected to an IRS representative in less than 30 minutes after trying for weeks on my own. The agent was able to confirm exactly what I needed to do for my MFS filing with my NRA spouse. They explained that paper filing with "NRA" written in the SSN field was correct, and also walked me through the ITIN application process since my spouse will be coming to the US later this year. They even explained some deductions I wasn't aware of that applied to my situation. Honestly would have paid double for this service considering how many hours of frustration it saved me.

Just wanted to add my experience - I was able to successfully e-file using TaxAct with my NRA spouse last year. What I did was first apply for an ITIN for my wife using the W-7 form. You need to send identity documents with this application (either originals or certified copies from the issuing agency). Once she had the ITIN, I could enter that instead of "NRA" in the software and e-file without issues. It took about 8 weeks to get the ITIN back, so plan accordingly. The upside is that once you have the ITIN, you can e-file every year after that.

Has anyone tried filing as Head of Household instead? I've heard that might be an option if your spouse is a nonresident alien and doesn't live with you in the US. Could save on taxes compared to MFS.

I went through this exact situation two years ago when I got married to my husband who was still in the UK waiting for his green card. Here's what I learned from experience: You absolutely cannot e-file with "NRA" in the SSN field - every tax software I tried (TurboTax, H&R Block, FreeTaxUSA) rejected it immediately. The IRS e-filing system requires a valid 9-digit identifier. My recommendation is to go the ITIN route if you plan to file jointly in future years or if your spouse will be coming to the US soon. Yes, it takes 8-10 weeks to get the ITIN, but it's worth it for the convenience of e-filing. You'll need to submit Form W-7 along with your tax return and original or certified copies of your spouse's identification documents. If you need to file immediately and don't want to wait for an ITIN, paper filing with "NRA" written in the spouse SSN field is perfectly acceptable. I did this my first year and had no issues - just make sure to clearly write "NRA" and don't leave it blank. One tip: if you do decide to get an ITIN, consider using a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA) who can verify your spouse's documents instead of mailing originals to the IRS. It's safer and often faster.