didn't make any money in the U.K. last year

was i supposed to file my income tax in april... what i made in the us was way under  and they would of owed me money... am i gonna get in trouble when   i go back to the states because of it?

clarification please, according to your  subject line you said your didn't make any money in the UK last year, but then ask about filing for US taxes? If you didn't work in the UK, you don't have anything to report to the US.

All US citizens are required to file for taxes annually regardless.

If you made very little in the US... I want to say the limit is roughly $7,000 or so for a single person, but check IRS.gov for your situation... taxes won't neccesarily be owed.

However, if you want to claim any over tax you paid, you have three years to make a claim.

I just filed for the past three years because I was a student one year and out of the country volunteering for 2 years and have no property, stocks etc., so I wasn't exactly who they wanted to chase down for failing to file.

Just do your "duty" and file. You may even be surprised with a small return if you think you overpaid. I got $200 back to my surprise!

That's interesting that you say that you have to file if you are not working in the US or the UK. When I was back in the States in Feb. 05, I called the IRS because I had some questions regarding stocks/IRA, etc. And I asked him if I had to file if I was not working, and was not taking interest (and such) from stocks/IRA.

He told me that I DID NOT have to file an income tax. So I didn't. He said as long as I didn't work and didn't sell my stocks or cash in my IRA, I was in the clear.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/index.html

Filing Requirements

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and for paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad.

Your income, filing status, and age generally determine whether you must file an income tax return. Generally, you must file a return for 2004 if your gross income from worldwide sources is at least the amount shown for your filing status in the following table.

Filing Status*       Amount
Single    $7,950
65 or older    $9,150
Head of household    $10,250
65 or older    $11,450
Qualifying widow(er)    $12,800
65 or older    $13,750
Married filing jointly    $15,900
Not living with spouse at end of year    $3,100
One spouse 65 or older    $16,850
Both spouses 65 or older    $17,800
Married filing separately    $3,100
*If you are the dependent of another taxpayer, see the instructions for Form 1040 for more information on whether you must file a return.



Unless the IRS wants to come after you about not filing, you shouldn't have a problem especially if you can prove you did not earn money in that tax year. Any money made under $80,000 in the UK is exempted from US tax through a tax treaty.

Yes, from what I understood from the IRS representative, as long as I was not working anywhere, did not touch my stocks/IRA, and did not receive any income from anyone (except my husband who is English and only has worked in the UK)I was in the clear of filing. He told me that sending in a blank IRS form full of zeros would be senseless. However, when I was ready to cash in (or sell) my stocks, then I would have to file a return. He told me that they would have no trouble finding me when the time comes because my Stocks/IRA have to file with the IRS over the holdings. If and when I decided to work in the UK (which I'm not going to), then it would be another story.

I remember talking to two IRS representatives, one when I was in the States, and calling one in the US while in the UK. Both representatives told me the same thing.

I also asked him about collecting Social Security when the time came. I had heard that if you didn't file a return (I mean if you are NOT working and don't file) then you couldn't receive your Social Security. He told me that the IRS had nothing to do with Social Security.

Now that's my situation, which I have to admit is very easy compared to most.