USC filing from UK-Question about spouse

Hi there, hoping someone can help me!

I went to IRS website, and found a free e-file software program I wanted to use. Unfortunately, it will not let me continue without putting in my husband's SSN. He does not have an SSN, as he is a UKC. How am I supposed to file taxes? I'm obviously married, so cannot file as "single". Do I have to print the forms to mail in, and just not put in his information?

You don't have to file until June 15th as you live overseas.  You are 100% correct that no-one can efile with an NRA spouse who does have an ITIN or SSN - so you'll simply have to paper file by June 15th. The FBAR if applicable gets paper filed separately to arrive with the US Treasury in Detroit by June 30th.

How do I know which form to even use? The paper forms confuse me, I always e-filed from the US. I want to file married filing separately...my husband has never lived or worked in the US. Am I allowed to do that? It seems like the 1040 and 1040EZ are for Single, or Married filing Jointly. Do I have to file jointly? It doesn't make sense to me at all. I don't need the FBAR form if filing separately, but am unsure about whether I would need to if I am forced to file jointly. None of it makes any sense to me at all. Is it too late to try and find a professional to help?

You are never too late to find a professional as tax professionals work year-round.

Unless you jointly elect you must file separately, not sure why you are thinking this is tricky though?

The question is very tricky! I am in the same boat right now. I am US, married to UK. I can't can't tick the single box. I can't tick the "married filing jointly" box. If I tick the "married filing separately" that gives the impression he will file as well but he will not but that's the one I have to go with I guess. None of the guidance documents give any advice for my situation which I cannot believe is a rare one. Very strange.

If I tick the "married filing separately" that gives the impression he will file as well but he will not but that's the one I have to go with I guess.

It doesn't give the impression he will file. It is exactly what you are supposed to use for the situation.

You check "Married filing separately" and then where it asks for his SSN or ITIN you write "NRA" (non-resident alien).

It IS possible to get him an ITIN by going to the Citizen Services section of the US Embassy in London but it's a bit of a grey area whether you actually need to if living in the UK so probably easiest not to bother. We got one for hubby because we were going to be in the US for 8 months together, and we filed jointly, but he still wasn't a resident (he was just on a visitor's visa for that time) so after we came back we re-filed those years without him because we worked out it might not be particularly advantageous for his pension to do this.  Because he was on a visitor's visa, we just said that we had filed jointly in error as he was still an NRA. They accepted this.

for purposes of the 1040, "single" is a totally different filing status than "married filing separately". MFS is the correct status; previous poster is correct - it does NOT imply that someone not required to file will be filing. A joint filing does require disclosing ALL worldwide income, and that can get really messy.