Ready to file, BUT not sure about one thing...

Hello

I do hope someone can answer this question easily. I am US citizen, living in the UK filing tax return for last year for first time since living here and being married. My husband is UK citizen born and bred. Has never lived in the US.

I am filing married filing separately and it wants my husbands name and SSN. So do I just put his name leave SSN blank since he does not have one. OR do I just leave name blank since he does not have to file and won't be filing?

I tried searching the forum for this answer and got no where.

Thanks
Sharon

The correct answer is to enter "NRA".

The correct answer is to enter "NRA".

Thank you guya. I can now get it in the post.

Not necessarily correct. If the OP wishes to claim an exemption for the NRA spouse, then the spouse MUST have an ITIN. You cannot simply write "NRA" on the line for the SSN.

Not an issue if no tax is due, but if there is a liability, having that additional exemption will offset some of the tax.

See: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p1915.pdf - specifically p 6 and p 7, who needs an ITIN; your point of interest is this:

An alien spouse, claimed as an exemption on a U.S. Federal income tax return, who is not eligible to obtain a SSN.