Hi,

I am on an H1B visa currently working in the US. I got married to my wife in Feb 2009 and she joined me in the US on the H4 visa from March 2009. She has been in the US since July 2005 on a F1 visa and graduated in Dec 2008. She worked at her university and has a SSN. She did not get a job before leaving to India for the wedding and her only way to return legally was on a H4. Her existing bank account had accrued interest income of about $100 in 2009.

I was planning on filing jointly to claim her std. deduction, but am not sure about how to report her interest income. She had not other W2's/income in 2009.

a) Can I file jointly?
b) if Yes, how do I report her interest income?
c) Can I e-file?

Would appreciate any help with the questions, and any suggestions regarding how to appropriately file.

Thanks,
Nightan

a. Yes
b. Yes, both of you must report worldwide income for 2009
c. Yes.

Thanks MukatA, for the quick answer. Neither she nor I had any other income outside the US. So, not an issue for us.

Can you tell the name of the form that I would use?
When it comes time to itemize the interest incomes, how do I separate her's from mine? Do I add an identifier on the line items to differentiate hers from mine?

File Form 1040. Add the incomes, without any identifier.

Thanks once again for the prompt reply.