JAJ

Something like these cases, perhaps?
http://www.irs.gov/uac/Offshore-Tax-...liance-Efforts

It is unlikely that anyone living in a high tax jurisdiction, such as Canada or Australia, will owe significant U.S. taxes, due to the foreign tax credit. To the extent that taxes are owed when a late filing is made, the IRS will assess the standard late filing penalties, interest, etc. But there is absolutely no evidence that the process will go any further than that in everyday cases. The bar for proving wilful tax evasion/fraud is fairly high.

lansbury

No, it does offer an option to print the forms, but then asks for payment before allowing you to do so.

I did enter in manually once, but deleted that before I downloaded. As best I can tell it somehow download twice, what caused that to happen I don't know.

athruz

I was wondering if you anyone can help me. I moved to the States in mid 2013, I have been trying to work out my tax return but to no avail. I am trying to determine whether to file jointly with my wife (and as a result be taxed on worldwide income, as my UK income was fairly low up until I moved).

What I want to know, is can I write the amount that I earned in the UK off on my tax return as I have already been taxed on it, and if so, how do I do this, is it by taking the foreign tax credit?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, this has been driving me insane for the past month!!!

JAJ

You cannot "write off" your U.K. income. If you file jointly, you must include foreign items for the entire year on your tax return as income, and then any U.K. tax paid can be taken as a credit (use form 1116). You may also need to include a statement electing to be treated as resident for a time you were not.

Or, if you file married/separate (or another eligible filing status, but not married/joint) then you do not have to include non-U.S. income earned before you became tax resident. You include worldwide income only from the time you are tax resident. If you came to the U.S. with an Immigrant Visa, your became tax resident the moment you were admitted as an immigrant, even if you only made the move later on.

If you are completely lost, then you would be best advised to extend your filing deadline using form 4868, which gives you more time to figure it out. However, knowing how to file a U.S. tax return correctly is an essential skill.

athruz

Thank you, JAJ!. Having gone through both ways, I have found that filing jointly is the best way for us. In the process of researching this, I have now found that I don't qualify for the foreign earned income credit (on account of expecting a full refund from HMRC).

Now, the only issue I have is working out how/which line to declare the UK income on form 1040, looking through the instructions, there is nowhere which specifically states this.

Jscl

You declare it on the same line that you would it it were US income, eg if it's wages add it to line 7, interest line 8 etc. If you think it will be confusing you can type in "See statement" and at the end include a statement detailing the income (assuming your software will allow it).

[email protected]

Hi and thanks for the information. I read it is not required to file a FBAR if I don't have over $10,000 at any given time during the tax year. Should I still file it?
Thanks,
JP

theOAP

Shame to let a boring thread die.

I see some US expats have already filed their 2013 US return, but some of us are just starting.

The massive spread sheet used to calculate the tax return was fired up in March complete with estimated figures; necessary to establish no tax due for 2013, and hence, no penalties if filed late. It was then put back to sleep.

The last statement from the High Street bank of interest paid in 2013 arrived about a week ago. So, no more excuses to delay. The spread sheet was reactivated yesterday with all figures accurately up to date.

Surprise, surprise; no tax due.

We now start another year of spending hours double checking figures and filling in forms; contributing to the local business economy by using the local shop that runs the FEDEX collection point; giving money to FEDEX who will claim it's "foreign" income on which they will pay no US tax to the IRS; supporting the local economy in Austin since the IRS will pay the salary of some worker who will stick 50 pages of tax info, one by one, onto a reader; all to again inform the IRS that they will not receive even one stinking penny in tax revenue this year,....as usual.

The IRS will once again be informed that the (foreign) savings account at the (foreign) High Street bank down the road from my residence does not contain $50 million of (foreign) unreported funds, and they will not be required to fire up the full vengeance of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. I'm sure they will be disappointed.....as usual.

And, two weeks from now (if I get with it), I'll again be faced with the largest problem I encounter every year; how do you "attach" 50+ sheets of tax info together? Ever try to drive a staple through 50 sheets of paper? I'm glad I have a simple return therefore no shipping container is needed.

Oh, and HMRC sent the 2013/14 self assessment return last week. Two hours and a first class stamp will be needed sometime in August.

Anyone else still in the process of filing?

Cook_County

I recommend a Treasury tag as I don't have a stapler big enough either!

theOAP

Just the man to answer my question.

I've contemplated using a single hole punch on each sheet, with all pages held together with a Court approved red ribbon from my solicitor; the ribbon held together with some wax; and an impression from my university graduation ring used as the seal.

Is that legal?

robin1234

The Stanley Bostitch EZ Squeeze 130 Heavy-Duty Stapler has a 130 sheet capacity, so that should work for you even in future years when you'll be filing more sheets.

theOAP

Could I buy the Stanley Bostitch EZ Squeeze 130 Heavy-Duty Stapler at Waitrose?

robin1234

No, but if you could, you'd get a free newspaper in addition to your free cup of tea.

theOAP

OK, time for honesty. The real concern is for the Health and Safety of the IRS worker putting those sheets, one by one, onto the reader. A staple can be driven through the top portion of the stack, the stack turned over, and a second staple can be driven through the back side. The stack holds together. A take-the-staple-out-remover-thingy can remove the top staple, but part way through the stack, the pointy ends of the bottom staple become exposed, and staples can leave a real nasty cut. I hate to think what the penalty is for wilfully causing injury to the reader operator. Probably $10,000 per source of income per year the injury is visible.

Of course, this is Texas and these are Treasury agents. They'll probably just pull out their side arm and shoot the damned staples off. No Health and Safety concerns.

Or, am I over thinking this?

robin1234

So is that what they do, feed the sheets into a reader? If so, why doesn't the IRS invest in a robust online tax filing front end of its own. Stop relying on commercial companies like TurboTax. Require all tax payers to file online via the IRS system. Charge a reasonable fee ($1,000, say) to tax payers who absolutely insist they must file on paper.

It seems crazy that we transcribe information that is originally digital at some point, fill it in in pen on paper, mail it in, and they then feed it into an OCR reader? What is the US Government, stupid??