Artículo Nonresident alien spouse.. Nonresident alien spouse.

id="en_US_2025_publink1000170575"> Nonresident alien spouse. If your spouse is a nonresident alien, your spouse must have either an SSN or an ITIN if: You file a joint return, or Your spouse is filing a separate return. If your spouse isn’t eligible for an SSN, see the following discussion on ITINs . Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN). The IRS will issue you an ITIN if you are a nonresident or resident alien and you don’t have and aren’t eligible to get an SSN. This also applies to an alien spouse or dependent. To apply for an ITIN, file Form W-7 with the IRS. It usually takes about 7 weeks to get an ITIN. Enter the ITIN on your tax return wherever an SSN is requested. Make sure your ITIN hasn’t expired. See Individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) renewal , earlier, for more information on expiration and renewal of ITINs. You can also find more information at IRS.gov/ITIN . . If you are applying for an ITIN for yourself, your spouse, or a dependent in order to file your tax return, attach your completed tax return to your Form W-7. See the Form W-7 instructions for how and where to file. . . You can’t e-file a return using an ITIN in the calendar year the ITIN is issued; however, you can e-file returns in the following years. . ITIN for tax use only. An ITIN is for federal tax use only. It doesn’t entitle you to social security benefits or change your employment or immigration status under U.S. law. Penalty for not providing social security number. If you don’t include your SSN or the SSN of your spouse or dependent as required, you may have to pay a penalty. See the discussion on Penalties , later, for more information. SSN on correspondence. If you write to the IRS about your tax account, be sure to include your SSN (and the name and SSN of your spouse, if you filed a joint return) in your correspondence. Because your SSN is used to identify your account, this helps the IRS respond to your correspondence promptly. Presidential Election Campaign Fund This fund helps pay for Presidential election campaigns. The fund also helps pay for pediatric medical research. If you want $3 to go to this fund, check the box. If you are filing a joint return, your spouse can also have $3 go to the fund. If you check the box, your tax or refund won’t change. Computations The following information may be useful in making the return easier to complete. Rounding off dollars. You can round off cents to whole dollars on your return and schedules. If you do round to whole dollars, you must round all amounts. To round, drop amounts under 50 cents and increase amounts from 50 to 99 cents to the next dollar. For example, $1.39 becomes $1 and $2.50 becomes $3. If you have to add two or more amounts to figure the amount to enter on a line, include cents when adding the amounts and round off only the total. If you are entering amounts that include cents, make sure to include the decimal point. There is no cents column on Form 1040 or 1040-SR. Equal amounts. If you are asked to enter the smaller or larger of two equal amounts, enter that amount. Negative amounts. If you file a paper return and you need to enter a negative amount, put the amount in parentheses rather than using a minus sign. To combine positive and negative amounts, add all the positive amounts together and then subtract the negative amounts. Attachments Depending on the form you file and the items reported on your return, you may have to complete additional schedules and forms and attach them to your paper return. . You may be able to file a paperless return using IRS e-file. There’s nothing to attach or mail, not even your Forms W-2. See File Electronically , earlier. . Form W-2. Form W-2 is a statement from your employer of wages and other compensation paid to you and taxes withheld from your pay. You should have a Form W-2 from each employer. If you file a paper return, be sure to attach a copy of Form W-2 in the place indicated on your return. For more information, see Form W-2 in chapter 4. Form 1099-R. If you received a Form 1099-R showing federal income tax withheld, and you file a paper return, attach a copy of that form in the place indicated on your return. Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you file a paper return, attach any forms and schedules behind Form 1040 or 1040-SR in order of the “Attachment Sequence No.” shown in the upper right corner of the form or schedule. Then, arrange all other statements or attachments in the same order as the forms and schedules they relate to and attach them last. Don’t attach items unless required to do so. Third Party Designee If you want to allow your preparer, a friend, a family member, or any other person you choose to discuss your 2025 tax return with the IRS, check the “Yes” box in the “Third Party Designee” area of your return. Also, enter the designee’s name, phone number, and any five digits the designee chooses as their personal identification number (PIN). If you check the “Yes” box, you, and your spouse if filing a joint return, are authorizing the IRS to call the designee to answer any questions that arise during the processing of your return. You are also authorizing the designee to: Give information that is missing from your return to the IRS; Call the IRS for information about the processing of your return or the status of your refund or payments; Receive copies of notices or transcripts related to your return, upon request; and Respond to certain IRS notices about math errors, offsets (see Refunds , later), and return preparation. You aren’t authorizing the designee to receive any refund check, bind you to anything (including any additional tax liability), or otherwise represent you before the IRS. If you want to expand the designee’s authorization, see Pub. 947. The authorization will automatically end no later than the due date (without any extensions) for filing your 2026 tax return. This is April 15, 2027, for most people. See your form instructions for more information. Signatures You must sign and date your return. If you file a joint return, both you and your spouse must sign the return, even if only one of you had income. . If you file a joint return, both spouses are generally liable for the tax, and the entire tax liability may be assessed against either spouse. See chapter 2 . . Your return isn’t considered a valid return unless you sign it in accordance with the requirements in the instructions for your return. You must handwrite your signature on your return if you file it on paper. Digital, electronic, or typed-font signatures are not valid signatures for Forms 1040 or 1040-SR filed on paper. If you electronically file your return, you can use an electronic signature to sign your return in accordance with the requirements contained in the instructions for your return. Failure to sign your return in accordance with these requirements may prevent you from obtaining a refund. Enter your occupation. If you file a joint return, enter both your occupation and your spouse’s occupation. When someone can sign for you. You can appoint an agent to sign your return if you are: Unable to sign the return because of disease or injury, Absent from the United States for a continuous period of at least 60 days before the due date for filing your return, or Given permission to do so by the IRS office in your area. Power of attorney. A return signed by an agent in any of these cases must have a power of attorney (POA) attached that authorizes the agent to sign for you. You can use a POA that states that the agent is granted authority to sign the return, or you can use Form 2848. Part I of Form 2848 must state that the agent is granted authority to sign the return. Court-appointed conservator, guardian, or other fiduciary. If you are a court-appointed conservator, guardian, or other fiduciary for a mentally or physically incompetent individual who has to file a tax return, sign your name for the individual. File Form 56. Unable to sign. If the taxpayer is mentally competent but physically unable to sign the return or POA, a valid “signature” is defined under state law. It can be anything that clearly indicates the taxpayer’s intent to sign. For example, the taxpayer’s “X” with the signatures of two witnesses might be considered a valid signature under a state’s law. Spouse unable to sign. If your spouse is unable to sign for any reason, see Signing a joint return in chapter 2. Child’s return. If a child has to file a tax return but can’t sign the return, the child’s parent, guardian, or another legally responsible person must sign the child’s name, followed by the words “By (your signature), parent for minor child.” Paid Preparer Generally, anyone you pay to prepare, assist in preparing, or review your tax return must sign it and fill in the other blanks, including their Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN), in the paid preparer’s area of your return. Many preparers are required to e-file the tax returns they prepare. They sign these e-filed returns using their tax preparation software. However, you can choose to have your return completed on paper if you prefer. In that case, the paid preparer can sign the paper return manually or use a rubber stamp or mechanical device. The preparer is personally responsible for affixing their signature to the return. If the preparer is self-employed (that is, not employed by any person or business to prepare the return), the preparer should check the self-employed box in the “Paid Preparer Use Only” space on the return. The preparer must give you a copy of your return in addition to the copy filed with the IRS. If you prepare your own return, leave this area blank. If another person prepares your return and doesn’t charge you, that person shouldn’t sign your return. If you have questions about whether a preparer must sign your return, contact any IRS office. Refunds When you complete your return, you will determine if you paid more income tax than you owed. If