-Marriage, Taxes, and the FEIE

[Slowtraveler]

According to the IRS, if one gets married on any date within a tax year, they can declare married on their tax return. Also, the tax year for an expat can extend months beyond the normal tax year.

Does this mean that if I claim the FEIE for 2019 and extend my 2019 tax year to June 2020, that as long as I am married before June 2020, I can claim Married Filing Jointly on my 2019 tax return?

Also, would she be able to contribute to a deductible Traditional IRA or backdoor Roth for 2019 and 2020 even though we wouldn't be able to physically be in USA until 2021 since the visa application process takes about a year?

Thanks Mr. Cracker! Your tax ingenuity has changed my life.

[gocurrycracker]

Thank you kindly, Slowtraveler

The tax year doesn't change for expats. Whenever you file your 2019 tax return, it will be for Jan1 - Dec 31.

If you are not married by Dec 31, 2019, you are Single for tax purposes.

If you leave the US in June 2019, finish a year abroad in June 2020, file your tax return in Oct 2020, you will get a partial foreign income exclusion for June - Dec 2019. Any taxes owed would still be due in April 2020.