I am on H1B and got married in February. My spouse is currently on H4, entered USA in April 2006 and is not working. She does not have SSN and TIN. Please let me know, how I should go about filing my taxes. What is the first step I need to do and the steps thereafter. Thanks.

You need to complete Form W-7 to apply for an ITIN for her; she must sign the W-7. Then get a photocopy of her passport notarized.

Attach both to a tax return which you must prepare jointly with your wife, leaving her SSN area blank. You both sign the tax return, then mail the return, the passport photocopy and the W-7 to the address in the W-7 instructions. The IRS will issue the ITIN to your spouse, insert it in the blank SSN area, then process the return.

The IRS will then send your wofe her ITIN. You can then file your state tax return.

If you need my professional tax help, contact me at [email protected].