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raviviswana · Dec 31, 2010, 12:20 PM

Hello
I've been working on an H1B visa all of this year - first half of this year in NY, and the second half in CA.
I got married this Aug, and my wife joined me in the U.S. in December.
For filing taxes, I thought I'd file as 'Married filing jointly'. My wife, being that she's on an H4, does not have an SSN.
Is there anything specific I'd need to do as a pre-requisite in order to file for taxes jointly, such as getting an ITIN for my wife? Also, would there be good savings in taxes since I am filing as 'MARRIED FILING JOINTLY'? I understand that as an H1B worker, I can only have atmost up to 2 allowances; so I wasn't sure of the extra savings I was getting with 'MARRIED FILING JOINTLY'.

AtlantaTaxExpert · Dec 31, 2010, 02:38 PM

You can and should file jointly with you wife; she will need to sign a statement that she CHOOSES to be treated as a resident alien for all of 2010.

You also need to submit Form W-7 with a notarized photocopy of her visa and poassport stapled to the W-7. She must sign the W-7 and the tax return, which is submitted with the W-7. The IRS will issue the ITIN, insert it where her SSN goes on the tax return, process the return and send you the refund.