My wife is from the USA and since 2004 has lived in the UK. We have just found out that she was supposed to be filing tax returns ever since she moved here (I think). I've started looking in to companies who will guide me through the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore procedure for US Expats but they charge a fortune for whats required. Can anyone who's done this before just confirm that I'm heading in the right direction.
I suppose the first question is, does she even to have file at all given that her only income from January 2012 is child benefit of £20.70 a week.
If she does need to file then a bit more background info:
I was born in the UK.
My wife has been unemployed since January 2012
We have a daughter who was born in August 2012 (in the UK)
My wife has one bank account and has never had more than $10,000 in it. (name is not on any other accounts)
Can you confirm that my wife only needs to file 3 x Forms 1040 for years 2012, 2013, 2014?
Is it possible to, instead of filing for the US tax year of 1st Jan to 31st Dec, file for the UK tax year, 6th April to 5th April?
Does the child benefit come under 20a (Social Security Benefits)?
Thanks in advance
