Things To Know About US Expat Tax Returns

For citizens of the United States living abroad, filing a tax return is more than an annual chore; instead, it is a matter of law that requires a precise grasp of the unusual complexities surrounding those US tax returns. Knowing, whether in the UK or somewhere else overseas, how to deal with U.S. tax obligations may keep you from very costly mistakes and legal headaches.

Why Do U.S. Expatriates Still Need to File?

The United States taxes its citizens and Green Card holders almost like no other country does. This means that each year, every U.S. citizen and Green Card holder, no matter where they are living or earning income, must file US tax returns. Even though you will have been paying taxes in the country where you're residing- such as the U.K.- still, you will have had to report your income to the IRS.

Us Expat Tax Returns

U.S. Expat Taxes Understanding

Believe it or not, filing a U.S. expat tax return implies more than completing Form 1040 alone. There are various other forms that expats may end up filing; for instance:

● Form 2555: This is so that one can score high on the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) possible chances of excluding up to a definitely specified amount of foreign income for U.S. tax purposes.

● Form 1116: This form allows claim to the Foreign Tax credit-the offset to taxes owed to the foreign government.

Common Issues for Expatriates

Overall, the big misunderstanding factor would include the confusion regarding forms: which to file, treatment of foreign earned income, and especially what counts as a foreign financial asset. Any wrong move may cause one to incur penalties or even a full-blown audit. Failing to file either FBAR or any FATCA-related documents can have huge, serious implications even when not owing taxes.

Adding to this is that it is getting too fast for regular changes by the IRS, especially under the FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) legislation requiring the foreign banks to report on their accounts.

What Professional Help Looks Like

Because of all these complicated issues, many expatriates prefer to seek the assistance of professionals providing US expat tax returns services. These professionals know U.S. tax laws and the intricate details of foreign income, which all result in timely filing. They can assist any American citizen self-employed abroad, working for a foreign company, or getting passive income from different countries to file their tax returns shortly and help minimize taxes they must pay.

Summation

Filing your US tax returns abroad personally need not be an ordeal. Knowledge and support can keep you well within the law and avoid unnecessary worry. For expatriates living in the United Kingdom as well as other countries across the world, contracting a trustworthy U.S. tax professional will ensure sanity and comfort-and help keep an expatriate in excellent standing with the IRS.