Filing Status for US Citizen living abroad

[SensibleandHourly]

Hello Community, 

I have a US Resident living in another country, and married to one of the other countries citizens. When I do her tax return, I assumed I was checking the single box, but I see her former preparer claimed MFS. Is that a better selection? Wouldn't I have to have a SSN for him to select that option? 

Thank you! 

Dawn 

[sjrcpa]

If you're Married, you are not Single.

Some software allows you to enter NRA (nonresident Alien) for the spouse and still efile the MFS return.

[BobKamman]

Any children?  Might qualify for Head of Household.

[SensibleandHourly]

Great thought, but no children. 

[SensibleandHourly]

Hi there, 

So does that mean that ProSeries doesn't offer that option? And yes, I did find where the prior return had the NRA acronym noted in the Filing Status section, as well as a note at the top that stated "Taxpayer Abroad." So, I tried calling the help desk without any progress on a work around for this situation. 🤔

[sjrcpa]

The Taxpayer Abroad notation means they have until June 15 to file. 

The checkbox for that would probably be found in the extension input section.

[Bill Sanders]

The ProSeries Basic software does not allow NRA to be entered in the SS field. I guess the only solution is for the client to obtain a ITIN. Am other ideas?

[Taxprohere]

You can override and enter NRA in the field but then it has to be paper-mailed.  Which has been fine with a couple of my clients.

[TaxGuyBill]

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@Taxprohere wrote:

but then it has to be paper-mailed.

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I saw another ProSeries user say it can still be e-filed.  You probably need to disable error-checking when e-filing it, but that other ProSeries user said the IRS accepts the return.