The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) allows U.S. expats to avoid double taxation by excluding foreign wages when calculating taxes, which reduces payment obligations to the United States. U.S. expats MUST FILE even if they don’t owe taxes. We can provide information on your eligibility for FEIE. Contact Expatriate Tax Returns to learn more or if you need help filing your taxes.
Typically, to meet the physical presence test, you must reside in a foreign country or countries for a minimum of 330 full days during a 12-month period. Days can be counted spent abroad for any reason, as long as your tax home is in a foreign country. The 12-month period can start any day of the month, so that it provides you the greatest exclusion. In IRS Revenue Procedure 2020-27, the IRS waived the time requirements outlined in the Bona Fide Residence and Physical Presence tests if you returned to the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency. Need help filing? Contact Expatriate Tax Returns!
There are several ways that you can save money when filing your taxes depending on your individual circumstances. These include the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credit, and Foreign Housing Exclusion. The FEIE reduces your income by paying housing expenses. If you qualify and file on time, you can save big on your taxes. Most of our clients do not owe the IRS anything. If you’d like to learn more about these forms or want us to file on your behalf, contact Expatriate Tax Returns.
All U.S. Expats must file taxes annually. The United States government has established significant exclusions, deductions, and credits to make sure expats are not taxed twice on the same income. Even though most expats do not pay tax to the U.S. federal government because of the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or Foreign Tax Credit benefits, they still have to file. NEED ASSISTANCE? GET IN TOUCH WITH EXPATRIATE TAX RETURNS!
Moving to a foreign country can be exciting. During a time when many expats are learning a new way of life, they may forget about old responsibilities. This can lead to overdue taxes. The IRS’s Streamlined Filing Procedures may be able to help.
How Does Streamlined Filing Work?
Today’s Streamlined Filing Procedures were introduced in 2012. The new system was intended to provide an alternative to previous programs, which missed the mark by excluding many of the expats who needed them.
Streamlined Filing Procedures encourage expats to catch up on their taxes. To do this, the program reduced the number of previous years’ returns that are required. In order to use the new procedures, you will need:
Do I Qualify for Streamlined Tax Filing?
Restrictions were removed in 2014, which means that you may be eligible now even if you weren’t over five years ago. If you can produce the items listed above, you may qualify. You must show that you did not file because you were not aware that it was required.
If you have questions about using Streamlined Filing Procedures, let us know. Expatriate Tax Returns can help you navigate the U.S. tax system and get caught up on your financial responsibility.
The Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad Act of 2018 (H.R. 7358) was introduced last December. This legislation applies to anyone with a non-resident citizen status. Ending citizenship-based taxation would require rewriting almost all the current tax code. Instead, steps are being taken to help address issues for expats who live overseas.
What Does the Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad Act of 2018 Change?
If you qualify as a non-resident citizen, you are still expected to pay based on the core tax code. The Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad Act of 2018 changes the way your financial responsibility is calculated.
The Act adds Sec. 911A which amends the code to allow non-resident citizens to be taxed based on their United States-sourced income only. That means any income coming from foreign countries can be excluded.
Do I Qualify for Non-Resident Citizen Status?
You may qualify as a non-resident citizen if you meet the following requirements:
You must also meet all requirements outlined by the bona fide residence or physical presence tests. If you meet the criteria, you can elect to receive non-resident citizen status. It’s important to remember that you must be in a non-resident citizen status to exclude the sale of personal property.
If you have questions about your status, let us know. Expatriate Tax Returns can help you learn more about your financial responsibility and U.S. taxes.
