We could file dual-status, but my spouse is a U.S. resident. Should we consider the joint election instead?
I am from Japan and had a move year that probably makes me dual-status. My spouse is a U.S. resident for the whole year. One adviser says to keep the return dual-status because it is technically accurate to the facts. Another says we should compare it against the election to file a joint resident return because that could unlock a simpler filing result and possibly some credits.
The part I do not want to miss is the tradeoff. If we choose the joint route, I understand that it may pull my foreign income into the U.S. resident return for the whole year. Is that the main price of escaping dual-status rules?
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