TurboTax and filling online when your spouse has no SSN

I am using TurboTax for my taxes and just tried to file online, but it wants a social security number for my husband, who is a UKC and doesn't have one. I tried putting in 000-00-0000 but it's too smart for that.

Last year I filed at the last minute and ran into the same problem, so I changed my status to single and filed it that way (we got married in 2011). Does anyone know if there is there any workaround, or do I need to print and mail it? Or is filing again as single a really bad idea?

I don't think you can file online if he doesn't have either a SSN or an ITIN number. If you want to be able to put NRA (Non Resident Alien) for your spouse, I believe you have to file using the paper forms, because it won't let you write it on the online form.

I'm not sure that it's legal to file as single if you are married - you must either file 'married filing separately' or 'married filing jointly'.

Yes, that's why I'd like to do it correctly this time. I should correct last year's, probably, but I have been waiting for nine months for the IRS to respond to another correction I sent them last July (they owe me about $6000). Maybe after that's resolved.

I waited for 40 minutes to chat to a TurboTax person online, who didn't know the answer and offered to connect me to a tax expert. That one will take 58 minutes waiting time and we need to go somewhere so I guess I will just print and file.

I did find this while waiting:
https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1675256-can-t-e-file-my-return-because-my-wife-doesn-t-have-a-ssn-or-tin-but-she-doesn-t-require-one

I really wish TurboTax and the IRS could work together to fix this. There must be thousands of US taxpayers in this situation.

You should not be filing as single. Just print your return,write in nra and put it in the physical mail. Loads of us have had the same issue. It isn't a big deal to just mail the return.

Just for future reference, I am a USC with a UKC spouse and I have been able to file "married filing separately" online and e-file successfully the last 2 years using TaxACT online.

They have a specific box you can check that says "My spouse is a non-resident alien and therefore does not have a SSN or ITTN" or something to that effect. I e-filed and received my full refund and had no issues both this year and last year!

You should not be filing as single. Just print your return,write in nra and put it in the physical mail. Loads of us have had the same issue. It isn't a big deal to just mail the return.

Slightly bossy, no? I think you may have missed my previous post, in which I said (a) I am going to print and mail it, and (b) thousands of people must have the same problem. (For what it's worth, by the way, my taxes came out the same last year whether I calculated them as single or married filing separately, so the IRS didn't lose out.)

I disagree about it not being a big deal, though; I have already paid to file it online (included in the price of the software) and instead I will have to go down to our tiresomely incompetent post office, stand in line for probably 20 minutes, and pay to mail it plus get a proof of mailing. It would be really good if the IRS and Intuit could figure this out.

Just for future reference, I am a USC with a UKC spouse and I have been able to file "married filing separately" online and e-file successfully the last 2 years using TaxACT online.

They have a specific box you can check that says "My spouse is a non-resident alien and therefore does not have a SSN or ITTN" or something to that effect. I e-filed and received my full refund and had no issues both this year and last year!

Thanks very much--this is very useful! I see it's free to file a federal tax return. I will look into this tomorrow and see if I can use it. This makes me think that Intuit (TurboTax) is the one at fault here rather than the IRS. I may write them a note.

Slightly bossy, no? I think you may have missed my previous post, in which I said (a) I am going to print and mail it, and (b) thousands of people must have the same problem. (For what it's worth, by the way, my taxes came out the same last year whether I calculated them as single or married filing separately, so the IRS didn't lose out.)

Not meant to be bossy. I was on a BB an there is a limit to how much I will type, particularly when I don't have more than a few seconds. Was trying to give you a succinct answer give the looming deadline.

And no, I don't see where you said you were going to print and mail. I see where you ask if you should and where you guessed you would. I took that to mean you were undecided and was looking for confirmation. You are all sorted now it seems so I will leave you to it.

I'm using H&R Block online and it also gave me the option "Spouse is not a resident.." blah blah. My issue is I can't figure out the wording on the Foreign Earned Income questions. :-////

I'm using H&R Block online and it also gave me the option "Spouse is not a resident.." blah blah. My issue is I can't figure out the wording on the Foreign Earned Income questions. :-////

Did you figure out the foreign earned income questions?  What form is it reported on?!  I know the tax year is different here so I expect to get something/form/statement regarding my income here soon?  Then I should be able to fill it out.  I can't figure out the form 1116 either.