Am I eligible to file tax returns in married filing joint status, if my wife is working in foreign country (i.e. in INDIA) for whole year 2009? If yes, what are the documents I need to file tax returns as married filing joint?
Please assist me.

Yes, you can file jointly with your spouse regardless of her physical location. She could be on Mars for all the IRS cares.

However, a joint return requires that you BOTH sign either the return or the efile authorization form. A faxed or scanned copy of the SIGNED efile authorization IS acceptable to the tax professional who will efile your joint return, but if you MAIL the return, then the signatures on the joint return MUST BE ORIGINAL SIGNATURES.

Our firm handles this type of return as a matter of routine. If you want our professional help, email me at [email protected].

If you or your spouse is U.S. citizen or resident, you can file joint return. You must both report worldwide income on the tax return. If you spouse paid any taxes in India, you will file Form 1116 Foreign Tax credit or/and Form 2555 Earned Income Exclusion.

Does anyone know a tax preparer for preparing such tax return... i.e.. spouse is in India and here he/she if filing married joint tax return... will be of great help... Thanks

AtlantaTaxExpert [email protected] have done hundreds of such returns