FAQ
Can I file jointly with a foreign spouse?
How filing status, the nonresident-spouse election, worldwide income, and taxpayer identification affect expat couples.
A U.S. citizen or resident may be able to elect to treat a nonresident alien spouse as a U.S. resident and file jointly, but the election generally brings the spouse’s worldwide income into the U.S. return and requires the applicable identification and consent. Filing separately can produce a different result. Review the current Form 1040 and election instructions before choosing.