Can a Thai Wife Get a U.S. SSN or TIN Assigned While in Thailand

[miketu]

Does anyone know if it's possible for my Thai wife to get a U.S. Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number assigned while we're in Thailand?  We have an American marriage license.  Tks

[KhunLA]

Not until she's a US resident, green card holder.

[Smokin Joe]

7 minutes ago, miketu said:

Does anyone know if it's possible for my Thai wife to get a U.S. Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number assigned while we're in Thailand?  We have an American marriage license.  Tks

 

 Yes. You fill out the IRS Form W-7 and submit it with the next tax return you file. Assuming you intend to file a joint return.

 

Biggest headache is the requirement to provide her ID. Best way to do that is take her passport to the US Embassy to get a certified copy made.

 

https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-w-7

 

 

[Smokin Joe]

1 minute ago, KhunLA said:

Not until she's a US resident, green card holder.

 

Only for SSN, not for ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number)

[KhunLA]

Since it's June, guess you already filed your taxes ... scratch that one.

https://www.usa.gov/itin

 

... How to apply for an ITIN

There are 3 ways you can apply for an ITIN number:

 

Fill out Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and submit it with your tax return.

 

... Contact an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent ... (see list below)

 

Make an appointment with the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center

 

 

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agents-thailand

[kwonitoy]

35 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Not until she's a US resident, green card holder.

 

I've got a SSN and am not a US resident or green card holder.

Canadian with TN work visa did the trick for me.

But I did get while working in Houston.

[NoDisplayName]

I contacted one of the acceptance agents on the list a couple months back.....when considering filing a joint US return.

 

Cost was $250 (9000 baht).  You'd need to file the application with next year's joint tax return, or file an amended return for this year.

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agents-thailand

[miketu]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Since it's June, guess you already filed your taxes ... scratch that one.

https://www.usa.gov/itin

 

... How to apply for an ITIN

There are 3 ways you can apply for an ITIN number:

 

Fill out Form W-7, Application for IRS Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), and submit it with your tax return.

 

... Contact an IRS-authorized Certifying Acceptance Agent ... (see list below)

 

Make an appointment with the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center

 

 

 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/acceptance-agents-thailand

 

[miketu]

Great KhunLA, thanks for the info!

[miketu]

Thanks for the info guys!

[Presnock]

On 6/9/2025 at 12:31 AM, miketu said:

Does anyone know if it's possible for my Thai wife to get a U.S. Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number assigned while we're in Thailand?  We have an American marriage license.  Tks

absolutely!  we did that for my wife.  It is necessary especially when you do your annual taxes.  She will get an ITIN from the US government which will be used as her tax ID number.  Can usually be done very easily.  this link has some suggestions of why and how to do

https://itin-for-foreign-spouse-of-american-citizens-common-faqs/

[Neocon]

IRS

https://www.irs.gov/tin/itin/individual-taxpayer-identification-number-itin

 

U.S. Embassy, Bangkok

https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/notaries-public-2/certified-true-copies-of-a-foreign-passport-for-use-with-individual-taxpayer-identification-number-itin-applications/

[WDSmart]

On 6/9/2025 at 12:31 AM, miketu said:

Does anyone know if it's possible for my Thai wife to get a U.S. Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number assigned while we're in Thailand?  We have an American marriage license.  Tks

I don't know if the marriage license will help. My Thai wife has an SSN. I got that for her after we got her a Permanent Resident card (Green Card), and we only had a Thai marriage license. 

[Wrwest]

On 6/9/2025 at 12:31 AM, miketu said:

Does anyone know if it's possible for my Thai wife to get a U.S. Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number assigned while we're in Thailand?  We have an American marriage license.  Tks

Yes. As a US citizen, I am required to pay income tax on worldwide income. I file a joint return as I am married to a Thai national. She was issued a TIN as I claim her as a dependent, thus the personal deduction. I use a tax filing agency in Bangkok but requested the TIN through the IRS website (if I recall correctly). Sadly, I am not allowed to claim my full-time student, living at hone as a dependent unless she is legally adopted. Bottom line ... no tax due as I am below income requirement.

[Presnock]

34 minutes ago, Wrwest said:

Yes. As a US citizen, I am required to pay income tax on worldwide income. I file a joint return as I am married to a Thai national. She was issued a TIN as I claim her as a dependent, thus the personal deduction. I use a tax filing agency in Bangkok but requested the TIN through the IRS website (if I recall correctly). Sadly, I am not allowed to claim my full-time student, living at hone as a dependent unless she is legally adopted. Bottom line ... no tax due as I am below income requirement.

Did you note that within the BBB now in the Senate has a provision that will charge one 3% on any funds sent from the US to Thailand?  It supposedly says that if you are a US Citizen sending money to yourself that you can then claim a tax credit on that 3% when you file taxes the next year!  I sure don't understand why they keep adding things for US citizens or their banks to do.  This will make US banks even more less likely to keep an account open for people overseas as they will have to be the one's taking the tax out of that remittance.  Maybe using a US credit card and ATM cash out maybe will be okay but I sure don't know for sure on that. We will have to wait until the final bill is signed and then we can see how they word things.  My US bank knows about this provision and mentioned that I am a customer for life if I want so guess they will be willing to do the extra work required.  My wife too has an ITIN and yeah that extra deduction is handy!  Good luck!

[happydreamer]

Hello...just curious what benefit this would provide.would she be eligible to receive my social security if my day comes before hers?

 

Thank you

[Etaoin Shrdlu]

1 hour ago, happydreamer said:

Hello...just curious what benefit this would provide.would she be eligible to receive my social security if my day comes before hers?

 

Thank you

 

An ITIN does not convey any rights to Social Security spousal benefits.

 

 

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, happydreamer said:

Hello...just curious what benefit this would provide.would she be eligible to receive my social security if my day comes before hers?

 

Thank you

 

You can then file married joint and get double the deductions and allowances.

 

Single filers can earn up to ~$60K tax-free using the 0% capital gains brackets, married filers $120K.

 

But then the IRS may be interested in her Thai income.............

[gamb00ler]

On 6/9/2025 at 12:44 AM, KhunLA said:

Not until she's a US resident, green card holder.

Maybe it has changed but in 2007 we hosted several Thai students who were in Las Vegas on an exchange work program.  Non were considered residents and of course non had green cards but they all received SSN's.  And many years before that my Canadian friend got an SSN because she enrolled in some classes at a Nevada community college.

[gamb00ler]

4 hours ago, happydreamer said:

Hello...just curious what benefit this would provide.would she be eligible to receive my social security if my day comes before hers?

 

Thank you

There are several conditions that need to be met before your wife would be eligible to collect any SS benefit.  She would have to be married to you and living with you in the US for 5 years before she would be eligible. 

 

All the rules can be found here:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf