| You may not be aware of how to file your taxes if | | | | Among the problems that some people who have |
| you are an American citizen working and living abroad. | | | | recently moved abroad is that they did not bring all of |
| You may not be aware that even if you are outside | | | | their tax information with them, or they moved before |
| of the country, the IRS and the US government | | | | they could get all of their W-2 forms from their |
| actually require that you file your taxes. Although it is a | | | | employers and they were actually sent to the old |
| different method, it's certainly a better option than not | | | | address in the United States. It is your responsibility to |
| filing at all because it is quite easy and you can steer | | | | get those documents. Regardless if that takes asking |
| clear of severe IRS problems. | | | | a good friend or family member to find your mail, or |
| Numerous people assume that they have a free pass | | | | asking your company to send a new copy to your |
| for not filing their taxes if they work overseas. They | | | | new address, it needs to be done. Another option is to |
| also believe that their taxes don't need to be paid, | | | | let your company send you electronic copies through |
| either. This isn't the case, however. The IRS expects | | | | email, while the official ones are being sent through |
| everybody to file their tax returns to steer clear of | | | | regular physical mail systems. This will allow you to |
| considerable IRS issues, regardless if you live in a | | | | complete your tax returns in a timely manner and |
| foreign country or in the US. | | | | prevent an IRS problem. |
| IRS Form 2555-EZ and the Foreign Earned Income | | | | You have a few choices in how to file your tax return |
| form, or Form 2555, are two types of tax forms that | | | | if your spouse isn't an American citizen. Filing as |
| citizens residing and working abroad are made to | | | | Married Filing Separately is one option. This means that |
| accomplish. To be able to fully qualify and be able to | | | | you, as a taxpayer, would just report your own income |
| utilize either of these 2 forms, the taxpayer should be | | | | that you have earned for that year. But if you also |
| a citizen of the United States of America, or even a | | | | have children and you are the provider of more than |
| resident of the United States, but living in a foreign | | | | half of each child's support, then you can qualify under |
| country. | | | | the status of Head of Household. Lastly, you can |
| You'll need to file your tax return on April 15 of each | | | | choose to declare your spouse as a resident alien as |
| year like everyone else. But a 2-month extension is | | | | a third option. You would essentially be filing as Married |
| automatically given for American citizens residing | | | | Filing Jointly for tax reasons. |
| overseas. This would offer you more time to pay | | | | When filing taxes from another country, it's advised to |
| outstanding tax debts and file the right forms correctly. | | | | consult a tax preparer. This is the best way to avoid |
| To utilize this 2-month extension, you will need to | | | | IRS issues, considering the various factors involved. |
| attach a statement to confirm that you qualify for it. | | | | |