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View Full Version : How to claim non-resident wife as a dependent and file jointly


anubis123
Mar 23, 2012, 11:43 PM
I have been in the US since Aug 2008 on F-1 visa. Since Oct 2010 I have been on H-1B visa. I filed the 2010 and previous taxes as a non resident(1040-NR EZ). I got married in Nov. 2011 and my wife lives in India. She will come to the US in April 2012.

For the year 2011, I am a resident under substantial presence test. I would like to file a return jointly with my wife. My questions are:
1. Do I need to make a First year choice
2. Do I need to attach a statement to choose my wife as a resident based on my residency status
3. IS there anything else I need to do

AtlantaTaxExpert
Apr 23, 2012, 08:33 AM
1) No, you do not.

2) Yes, a spousal residency choice statement is required.

3) Assuming she has no SSN, she will need to submit Form W-7 to get an Indi vidual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).

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