Tips for Paper Filing with a Non-Resident Alien Spouse: W-2 & 1099 Attachment Questions

I'm having to paper file this year since my wife is a non-resident alien without an SSN or ITIN. We're filing married filing separately and I've got one federal return plus three state returns to deal with. Trying not to mess anything up! I was excited when I saw FreeTaxUSA's FAQ saying they supported e-filing with a non-resident alien spouse, but apparently they don't. Found out after spending $80 on their deluxe package... so frustrating. Anyway, I have some questions about the logistics of paper filing: 1) For the W-2s and 1099s, do I need to cut out specific copies (federal copy vs state copy) or can I just include the whole form as is? 2) When attaching W-2s and 1099s (I have a 1099-INT and two 1099-Rs from a Roth IRA recharacterization to traditional, then backdoor Roth conversion), where exactly do they go? Front of the 1040? Does the order matter? 3) What's the best way to physically attach these forms? Leave them loose? Paper clip? Staple? I've seen contradicting advice online. 4) For my payment (I owe some federal tax), should the check and payment voucher be left loose or attached somehow? Thanks for any help! I've been googling but finding vague or conflicting answers.

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18 comments

Donna Cline

•8M

Hi there! I help people with tax preparation at a community center, so I can answer your paper filing questions. 1) You don't need to cut out specific copies. You can include the full W-2 and 1099 forms as is. The IRS knows which parts they need. 2) All your tax documents (W-2s and 1099s) should be attached to the front of your Form 1040. The general order is: payment voucher on top (if applicable), then Form 1040, followed by your W-2(s), then any 1099s, and then any other supporting schedules or forms. But don't stress too much about the exact order - the IRS will sort it out. 3) Use a small paper clip to attach your documents. Don't staple them - the IRS needs to separate and scan each document, so staples create extra work. Definitely don't leave them loose or they might get separated during processing. 4) Your check and payment voucher (Form 1040-V) should be paper clipped to the front of your return. Don't staple the check. Make sure the check is made payable to "United States Treasury" and includes your SSN, tax year, and "Form 1040" on the memo line. Hope this helps with your paper filing! Let me know if you have any other questions.

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Donna Cline

•8M

Yes, you should definitely use separate paper clips for your federal return and each state return. Each needs to be its own complete package. You absolutely must mail them in separate envelopes to their respective addresses. The federal return goes to the IRS processing center for your region, while each state return goes to that state's tax department address. Mailing addresses are usually found in the instructions for each form or on the respective tax agency websites.

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Kelsey Hawkins

•8M

I went through this exact situation last year with my spouse who didn't have an ITIN yet. The paper filing was intimidating but I found a tool that made it so much easier. I used https://taxr.ai to analyze all my tax documents and it gave me a detailed checklist for paper filing - showed exactly where to attach each form, what order to use, and even flagged potential issues with my non-resident alien situation. Their system actually detected that I was trying to file with a non-resident alien spouse and provided specific guidelines. It eliminated all the guesswork! The tool also creates a digital copy of your entire return with everything in the right order that you can reference while assembling your physical return.

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Kelsey Hawkins

•8M

It doesn't file for you - it's more of an analysis and organization tool. The service analyzes your documents and gives you step-by-step instructions for proper paper filing. It creates a digital reference copy but you still handle the physical assembly and mailing yourself. Yes, they absolutely support both federal and state returns. I had one federal and two state returns, and the system gave me separate filing instructions for each one, with different checklists. It correctly identified which forms needed to go with which return, which was super helpful since some documents need to be included with multiple returns.

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Edwards Hugo

•8M

Just wanted to follow up - I tried https://taxr.ai for my paper filing situation and it was incredibly helpful! I was initially just looking for help organizing my documents, but it actually found a mistake in my backdoor Roth documentation that would have caused issues. The tool created a complete assembly guide with pictures showing exactly where each form should go and how to attach everything. I was especially impressed with how it handled my state returns. It created separate checklists for each one and even provided the correct mailing addresses and filing deadlines. My returns have been processed without any issues! Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with paper filing.

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Gianna Scott

•8M

For anyone struggling to get IRS help with paper filing questions, I found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual IRS agent in under 15 minutes. I had tried calling the IRS for days about my non-resident alien spouse situation and kept getting disconnected after hours on hold. With https://claimyr.com I got connected to an IRS rep who walked me through exactly how to handle the paper filing with my spouse's situation. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It saved me so much time and frustration, and I got definitive answers straight from the IRS about how to handle my specific situation. The agent confirmed that I could include the full W-2 and 1099 forms without cutting them, and gave me specific instructions for the paper clip vs. staple debate.

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Gianna Scott

•8M

They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an actual IRS agent picks up, they call you and connect you directly to that agent. It's completely legitimate - you're talking to real IRS employees. The service doesn't "skip the line" - they're just waiting in it for you. Instead of you personally being on hold for hours, their system handles that part. When I used it, their system waited about 2 hours before an agent answered, but I only had to be on the phone for the actual conversation part. Saved me a ton of time and frustration.

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Sydney Torres

•8M

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it myself since I was desperate for answers about my complicated filing situation. The service actually works exactly as described - they navigated the IRS phone system, waited on hold, and then connected me to a legitimate IRS representative. The agent was able to answer all my questions about filing with a non-resident alien spouse. She specifically advised me on how to handle the 1099-R forms for my IRA recharacterization and confirmed that paper clips are their preferred method for attaching documents. The peace of mind from getting official answers directly from the IRS was absolutely worth it.

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Kaitlyn Jenkins

•8M

I do both actually. I make physical photocopies that I keep in a folder for the current tax year, but I also scan everything into a single PDF that I store on my computer with a backup on an external drive. Physical copies are good for quick reference and if you need to mail something to the IRS in response to a notice. Digital copies take up less space and can't get damaged by water or fire. The IRS accepts either one as proof if they question something on your return.

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Donna Cline

•8M

Paper returns are taking 6+ months to process this year, especially if there's anything unusual like a non-resident alien spouse situation. The IRS is still catching up from the pandemic backlog. As long as your return was filled out correctly, your refund should eventually arrive. You can try calling the IRS refund hotline at 1-800-829-1954, but be prepared for a long wait. The Taxpayer Advocate Service might be able to help if it's been more than 6 months, but they're also overwhelmed with cases.

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