I’m a US Citizen living abroad, why do I need to file a US tax return?

Great question! Unfortunately our answer won’t be as great… it all boils down to the US tax law: “If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for…

Do I need to pay US taxes as an expat?

You may wonder if you need to pay US taxes as an expat because you typically need to file a US tax return. The truth is – it’s a fact…

Do all expats need to file or are there some exceptions?

You may wonder if there are exceptions for US expats regarding having to file a US tax return. First off, the following individuals need to file US taxes: US citizens…

What are the US Expat Tax Filing Dates?

Here are the deadlines for filing your 2021 taxes in the 2022 tax season: April 18th: The US tax filing deadline for US taxpayers living with the United States., and…

How do I file a tax extension from abroad?

With MyExpatTaxes you can file for an extension on your US taxes in a few simple steps. Best of all it’s completely FREE! Here you can find a step by…

How do I avoid penalties as a US expat?

There are two ways you as a US expat can avoid penalties from the IRS: File your US tax return with MyExpatTaxes or request an extension by June 15th every…

What is the Streamlined Procedure?

Do you need to make up years of back taxes? Maybe a couple of FBARs or two? No worries because the Streamlined Procedure can help you get back on track,…

Can I file jointly for a streamlined procedure?

Married couples who file jointly and are both US citizens/Green Card holders with a valid Social Security Number or ITIN can file jointly using the Streamlined Procedure. Keep in mind…

What part of my income is taxable by the IRS?

US citizens and Green Card holders are taxed on their total worldwide income. Does that mean that you will be double taxed? Not if the country in which you made…

I left the US and never renewed my Green Card – do I still need to file?

If you have not formally renounced your Green Card, you are still considered a Resident Alien for tax purposes and are required to file a US tax return to report…

How to report interest that the IRS has paid me?

When you are late in your payments, the IRS will ask you to pay them interest. When they are late in their refunds to you, they will return the favor…

How to report cryptocurrency gains?

Crypto are treated like investments like stocks and any capital gain/loss is reported on Schedule D. Here are some other points to know: The cost basis is the amount of…

How do I report stock if I don’t know when it was originally acquired?

Short term and long term sales are reported differently on your tax forms, that’s why we need the Date Acquired and the Date Sold. In some cases, the reports from…

Contributing to Roth IRA as an Expat

How can expats contribute to their US Roth IRA? First let’s look at what an IRA is: Roth IRA: You can make monetary contributions that already had taxes paid (i.e.:…

What is a W-9 form?

An IRS Form is commonly used to collect information from freelancers, independent workers, or workers who aren’t employed in a company but have completed work. If you earn more than…

My spouse is a non-US citizen, should I file jointly or separately?

If your spouse is not a US citizen or Green Card holder, then he/she does not need to be included on your tax return. Instead, you should file as “Married…

My spouse is a non-resident alien, should we file jointly or separately?

If your spouse is not a US citizen and has no Green Card, then he/she does not need to be included on your tax return. Instead, you should file as…

Should I renounce my US citizenship to avoid taxes?

There is always an option to renounce your US citizenship if you want to avoid US taxes. After renouncing you wouldn’t be required to file your us taxes anymore. However,…

I live in a country whose tax rate is higher than in the US, why do I still have to pay US taxes?

It’s simply the law that if the tax exclusions and benefits still make you susceptible to paying US taxes, you need to do it. This tax-paying duty from the IRS…

Can I file with MyExpatTaxes, even if I don’t have records of my income?

While you should always have documentation of your income, if you are confident in your input and estimate on the higher side when it comes to income earned, you can…

Can I apply for a Social Security Number from abroad?

Yes! You will need to contact your local Embassy or Consulate for an appointment. You do have to make sure to do it in person because The Social Security Administration…

My kids don’t have Social Security Numbers – do I apply before filing taxes

Yes, you can apply Social Security Numbers for them. If you have an extension filed in place, you have until October 15 to submit your tax return. But please be…

Do I need to file state taxes as an expat?

Short answer – it depends. There are three main factors that determine whether you owe state taxes as an expat: The legitimacy of your domicile (legal residence) abroad (meaning, your…

What is Foreign Earned Income?

Foreign earned income is income from services performed abroad that you actively worked for (i.e. as an employee, self-employed). Foreign investment income does not count! Learn more about foreign sourced…

How do I qualify to use the FEIE?

With the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) you can exclude up to $108,700 from income taxes. There are 2 criteria: 1. If you work full time in a foreign country…

What is FATCA or Form 8938?

By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.Learn more Load video Always unblock YouTube When you’re US citizen, you may be required to report your non-US financial accounts…

What can I deduct when it comes to charity and donations?

When it comes to deduction for donations and charity: Only donations to qualified organizations can be included. Additionally, you may check on this IRS website if your organization is eligible…

Should I declare rental property with no income tax?

You only need to report rental property if you are making income out of it (such as in the case of renting out your home/property), or when you sell it.

Can I deduct my housing expenses as an expat?

Yes! The Foreign Housing Exclusion allows you to deduct the excess of housing expenses, paid by employer provided amounts that are over 16% of the FEIE amount of that year.…

How to qualify for stimulus checks as an expat?

When you’re a US Citizen or a Green Card Holder, you may claim the stimulus check wherever you are as long as you’re eligible and you’re filing US Taxes (or…

How do stimulus checks work for expats?

Usually, when you file a US tax return, you’ll be asked to provide your US banking details, which is where the IRS direct deposits any refunds you may have. If…

Can I still claim my stimulus checks, even if I missed the filing deadline?

The short answer is, yes – you can still claim stimulus checks if you’ve missed the deadline – and if you’re eligible. You’re eligible for stimulus payments if: U.S. residents…

Can I claim the Recovery Rebate with MyExpatTaxes?

The Recovery Rebate Credit, in essence, is a tax credit that you’re able to use against your US income taxes as an American living abroad. This credit was paid in…

What is a common-law employee?

Many self-employed individuals are actually common-law employees, who operate as regular employees, just on different contract terms. According to the IRS, under common-law rules, if the company you work for…

How to fill out Form 2555?

Filing Form 2555 (The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion) is commonly used by US citizens who live outside the US. The FEIE allows any taxpaying qualified US expat the right to…

Who Needs to File the FBAR?

Anyone who must file or pay US taxes from abroad are required to file the FBAR once their financial accounts have reached the FBAR filing threshold as stated below. The…

How do I calculate the Total Value for FBAR?

Curious to know about calculating the total balance for all your overseas financial accounts? Here’s an example: You have 3 bank accounts: 2 from Italy, 1 from the US. You…

What are the consequences if I don’t file the FBAR?

Hefty penalties can come your way if you forgot or didn’t know you had to file the FBAR, or Foreign Bank Account Report. Depending on your circumstance as an expat,…

When do I need to file the FBAR?

Expats have an automatic extension to file the FBAR until October 15th. The FBAR only needs to be filed if you have had $10,000 or more combined from foreign financial…

I have missed years of FBARs. How can I catch up?

Since FBARS are filed through FinCen and not the IRS, penalties can be as high as $10,000 a year for filing errors or not knowing you had to file. Fortunately,…

Should I report accounts I closed during the last year?

Yes, if you close the financial account, you should report it. Also, don’t forget to report the closing balance of the financial account in FBAR and FATCA forms while filing…

How many FBARs should spouses filing jointly file?

If spouses only have joint foreign accounts then, they can file one FBAR. However, if both spouses have at least one individual foreign account then they have to file one…

Do I have to prove that I don’t have any foreign financial accounts?

If you don’t have a foreign account you don’t have to prove it. However, if you do have a foreign account and don’t report it, you could get fined, because…

Would there be a tax withheld on my FBAR accounts?

There is no tax on the FBAR values; FBAR reports are for informational purposes only.

Will info of joint accounts with non-US spouse be included on the FBAR?

Yes, you will need to include any joint accounts on your FBAR, however your non US citizen/Green Card Holder spouse does not need to file their own FBAR.

My financial accounts did not reach the FBAR threshold – should I still file?

You should file an FBAR if the total of all financial accounts combined exceed the $10,000 threshold. Even for one day! Keep in mind that you won’t be taxed on…

Are reimbursements from my employer taxable?

Reimbursements from your employer can be considered taxable benefits or non-taxable, depending on various factors. Here are a few examples and guidelines: Non-Taxable Reimbursements: Typical non-taxable reimbursements can include travel…

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