[onsite2011]

Hi


I am working on L1 Visa and I want to file taxes jointly with my wife.She never came to USA. I have stayed in Georgia fromJan2010 to Jun 2010.Right now I am in USA again.Is there any way I a can file taxes jointly with her?If yes what is that?
My salary is $60K

Thanks

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Yes, you CAN file jointly with your wife even if she has NEVR been in the United States.

However, you must claim ALL world-wide income earned by BOTH of you in 2010. You can claim the Foreign Tax Credit using Form 1116 to avoid double taxation.

Further, your wife must sign BOTH the tax return and the Form w-7 to apply for her ITIN. The forms MUSt have original signatures on them, which means they must be mailed via normal snail mail or via a courier service like FEDEX.

Finally, a photocopy of her passport must be BOTH notarized and certified as authentic with an apostille from the government agency that issued the passport.

This makes for a rather complex return, and the service of a Certifying Acceptance Agent (CAA) would probably be best. If you need professional help filing your returnand CAA service, email me at [email protected].