Can I file taxes using married filing jointly option?
Hello tax experts, given below is my situation.
I am resident alien and I have a W-2 for the wages I earned in the year 2008. By mid December 2008, I went to my home country and got married. My wife got a H4 visa and we returned back to US on Jan 1st 2009. Per IRS representative, though my wife is a non-resident alien now, she can be considered as a resident alien for tax purposes. So, we are filing our federal and state tax returns for year 2008 with "Married filing jointly" status. So, should I declare both my income and my wife's foreign income for the year 2008 as wages in Line 7 of form 1040? Also, I should use form 2555 to get the foreign earned tax exclusion, right?
I wanted to make sure if I can proceed with this. Please let me know, if I can or can not.
Thanks much,
Nick