Married Filing Separately with Non-Resident Alien Spouse - So Confused!

You're in what's called a "non-resident alien spouse" situation, which is actually pretty common! The reason you can't e-file is because the system needs to verify your filing status, and without an SSN or ITIN for your spouse, the automatic verification can't happen. Yes, unfortunately you'll need to mail in your return each year if your spouse remains a non-resident alien without an SSN or ITIN. The IRS requires paper filing in these cases because they need to manually review the return to verify your status. For mailing your return, here are some tips: - Make copies of EVERYTHING before mailing - Use certified mail with return receipt so you can track it - Double-check the correct mailing address for your specific form (different forms go to different IRS locations) - Include all necessary forms and schedules - Sign and date your return (people forget this more than you'd think!) There is an alternative if you want to e-file: your husband could apply for an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) even if he has no US tax obligations. This might be worth considering if you'll be filing US taxes for several more years.

I was in exactly the same situation last year! After hours of frustration with TaxAct, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it saved me so much stress. Their system is specifically designed to handle these complicated international situations like having a non-resident alien spouse. I uploaded my documents, and their AI immediately recognized my situation and guided me through the process. They explained exactly why I needed to mail my return (same reason the previous commenter mentioned - no SSN/ITIN for verification), but they also prepared all my forms perfectly for mailing with clear instructions. What I liked best was that they have experts who specialize in international tax situations, so they answered all my specific questions about filing with a foreign spouse. Might be worth checking out if you're struggling!

I wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai after my skeptical question earlier. I decided to give them a try with my complicated situation (US citizen married to Japanese national), and I'm honestly impressed! The AI immediately flagged that I needed to paper file due to my foreign spouse not having an SSN/ITIN, but then walked me through all the necessary forms and explained exactly how to handle each section. They even included a checklist for mailing my return to make sure I didn't miss anything. What really surprised me was when they suggested some deductions I had no idea I qualified for because of my specific international situation. Ended up saving me around $1,200 compared to what I would have filed on my own! Their customer support also answered my questions within hours. Definitely using them again next year.

I've been dealing with this exact situation for 3 years now (married to someone from Australia who doesn't live here), and honestly, the most frustrating part was trying to call the IRS with questions about this. I spent HOURS on hold only to be disconnected or told to call back later. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual IRS agent in less than 20 minutes! You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed everything the first commenter said - you have to mail in your return because the e-file system can't verify your status without an SSN/ITIN for your spouse. They also told me that filing by mail typically takes 6-8 weeks for processing vs. 3 weeks for e-filing, but there's literally no way around it unless your husband gets an ITIN. Getting that direct confirmation from the IRS gave me peace of mind that I was doing everything correctly.

I need to eat my words about Claimyr from my previous comment. After another failed 2-hour attempt to reach the IRS myself about my foreign spouse situation, I broke down and tried the service. Not only did they get me through to an IRS representative in about 15 minutes, but the agent I spoke with was actually super helpful. She confirmed that I was filling out my forms correctly for my situation with a non-resident alien spouse and explained exactly which address I needed to mail my return to (which varies depending on your state and form type). The agent also told me something nobody else mentioned - that I should include a cover letter briefly explaining my situation to help speed up processing. Apparently this helps the IRS sorter route my return to the right department faster. So yeah, I was wrong. The service is legit and saved me hours of frustration. Sometimes it's worth paying a little to save a lot of time!

Has anyone tried applying for an ITIN for their spouse even if they don't live in the US? My wife is Canadian (I'm American) and we're in the same boat - she visits but doesn't work here. We've been mailing our returns for 3 years and it's such a pain. Wondering if getting her an ITIN is worth the hassle just so I can e-file.

Make sure you're using the right filing address! This bit me last year when I was in your situation. The IRS has different mailing addresses depending on if you're enclosing a payment or not, and they also vary by state. I sent mine to the wrong place and it delayed my refund by TWO MONTHS! 😡 Check this page for the right address: https://www.irs.gov/filing/where-to-file-paper-tax-returns-with-or-without-a-payment

I'm in almost the exact same situation! My husband is from Germany and only visits the US a few times a year. We've been paper filing for the past two years and it's definitely annoying, but it becomes routine after the first time. One thing I learned that might help you - when you mail your return, include a brief cover letter explaining your situation (married filing separately with non-resident alien spouse who doesn't have SSN/ITIN). This helps the IRS processors understand why you're paper filing and can speed up the review process. Also, definitely send it certified mail with tracking like others mentioned. Last year my return took about 7 weeks to process, which isn't too bad considering they have to manually review it. If you're planning to move to the UK eventually anyway, it might not be worth the hassle of getting your husband an ITIN. But if you'll be filing US taxes for several more years, it could be worth considering since it would let you go back to e-filing. Good luck with your first paper filing! It's not as scary as it seems once you get everything organized.