Hi,

Which filing status may I use?

We live in germany, I am a us-citizen, my wife is german.
She has no income for 2008. I have foreign as well as usa income

I would like to use filing jointly status (provides a greater standard deduction), but my wife has no SSN, which is required on the 1040 form. My wife does not meet the requirements to obtain a SSN. Shall she apply for a TIN instead, or can we just leave the SSN block on the 1040 form blank?

Thanks for the help

trot

You can file joint return as residents. You will attach W7 (ITIN application) with your tax return.