Parisangel

Hello! Yes, I know we are very late to this party for various reasons, but can anyone recommend someone to help us file taxes who also will understand UK tax law....we are in Houston if that makes a difference.

Do we have to pay tax again on our UK earnings from 2012? That seems unfair!

Thanks

Michael

No you won't need to pay taxes on your UK earnings but must report them and use from 1116 to offset any possible US taxes owe with foreign taxes paid.

It is too probably to late find a good tax accountant and file by April 15th so I would file for an extension.

http://taxes.about.com/od/preparingy...eExtension.htm

Parisangel

Ok, thanks

Bob

Definitely file for an extension because chances are at this point, anyone decent will be fully loaded already...

JAJ

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Choosi...Accountant-USA

A U.S. accountant doesn't usually need to know U.K. tax law. All he or she ought to understand is that you're taxable on worldwide income and how to calculate a foreign tax credit. If you can show how much U.K. tax you have paid that should usually not be a problem.

If you want to start doing cross-border tax planning, then you probably need a practitioner licensed in both jurisdictions.

Speedwell

I used an accountant with Alonzo, Bacarisse, Irvine and Palmer, down in the Galleria, Parisangel. They are a top firm and cost plenty, but I had offbeat capital gains as well as immigration issues (my husband and I filed joint so I could get a substantial refund instead of sustain a horrid liability).They also do corporate taxes and they know their stuff. Jon Meadows handled my forms and I was really happy with the job he did for me. If he personally doesn't know UK tax law, I bet someone at the firm will.

Parisangel

Ok thanks. I don't think we are a particularly complex case so I don't believe we warrant use of a top firm! What would you expect to pay to have someone file your taxes, as a general guide?

Thanks again for all the advice.

Speedwell

I was hoping someone else would answer this. I can't tell you how much I paid because I negotiated the fee based on having done half the work myself and my circumstances won't apply to you (I had made a few incorrect assumptions, but that is what you hire a pro for). The way I think of it is that the pro saved me more money than I paid him, so it basically balanced in the end. It's false economy to use a cheapo practitioner who does nutty things like tell you to file single because your spouse isn't in the US.