I entered US from Indian in the first week of DEcember and I applied for an SSN during mid December and they have held it for want of more information and I will have to wait for up to 4 weeks before I know if I get an SSN. In such a case how can I file for my tax returns, my employer may put in a temperory SSN id on my W2 form. Should I wait for the SSN or is there any other way to proceed. What is the last day of filing for Tax returns?

You don't get a SSN... not until you become a citizen... what they do give you is a taxpayer ID number. They are NOT the same thing... and never put a fake number down. THAT will get you in even bigger trouble. Tax returns aren't due until April 17, 2012 for the 2011 tax year. The W-2's haven't even been sent out yet.

The deadline is April 17th, but you can apply for an extension up to October 15th 2012 on form 4868 if you get close to the April deadline and didn't get your SSN yet.

And what is a temp SSN, never heard of it, and how are you even working without one or tax payer ID,

I hope your employer is not breaking several laws by what they sound like they are doing.

@smoothy: actually they do issue SSNs for non-citizens

@smoothy: actually they do issue SSNs for non-citizens
What year did they start doing that... because they certainly weren't doing it back in the early 90's when I first brought my wife back from Italy... because I had a few years I couldn't even claim her because they wouldn't give her that stuff so I could.

SSNs have been issued to foreign workers on E, H, and L visas and to students and exchange academics on F and J visas for at least ten years.

Ok... my experience predates 10 years ago by more than a just a couple years.