USA taxes married filing separately with non resident alien spouse

[User444]

 Hello, I have always done my taxes electronically, but for 2018, I have to change them to a mail in form. Has anyone else done this? Just include your 1040 and W2 and send it to the IRS? I'll have to do the same for California.

[lost_in_samoa]

I have to change them to a mail in form. Has anyone else done this?

For mailing US Fed taxes from the RP.

1.)  If you are enclosing a payment you need to fill out 1040V the voucher form.

2.)  If you are using a delivery service, (Fedex, DHL, Etc.),  .... They do not deliver to P.O. box addresses or to addresses that do not have a phone number.   There are two different addresses.  One for returns with payment and one for returns without payment.

3.)  Allow extra mail time.

Hope this helps

[bigrod]

While it is your choice which status you file, would it not be more beneficial to file married joint return?  Since your spouse probably does not have a SSAN you just need to attach Fm W-7 to the return with required documents and send all to the address listed for processing the W-7.

Chuck

[User444]

Noted about the PO Box for mail. My friend is visiting form the States this weekend, so I will print off the forms, sign them, seal the envelope, and she'll return and snail mail them. I read online that it costs 1,000 P to send a letter from the PH to the USA?! So this year I have a work-around. For the W7, that could be an option for next year, but to apply for a ITIN, it said it would take 6-8 weeks.  She doesn't make any US income and I would still have to mail in the documents vs efile if I had it. I don't see a need for it now. I'm surprised the IRS does not allow you to e-file separately if only the US citizen is filing and declaring the spouse as NRA. 

[bigrod]

Noted about the PO Box for mail. My friend is visiting form the States this weekend, so I will print off the forms, sign them, seal the envelope, and she'll return and snail mail them. I read online that it costs 1,000 P to send a letter from the PH to the USA?! So this year I have a work-around. For the W7, that could be an option for next year, but to apply for a ITIN, it said it would take 6-8 weeks.  She doesn't make any US income and I would still have to mail in the documents vs efile if I had it. I don't see a need for it now. I'm surprised the IRS does not allow you to e-file separately if only the US citizen is filing and declaring the spouse as NRA.

Filing the W-7 with your tax forms completes your IRS filing, they are not two separate filings.  So again you have accomplished your filing for the tax year and got yours spouse an ITIN in one action. If you lived here most of last year and owe no taxes your filing date is automatically 15 Jun versus 15 Apr.

Chuck