Do I need to file a US Tax Return?

The IRS has at long last got its webmaster to publish a sensible and up to date page bringing current FBAR rules into one place:

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=148849,00.html

This link is well worth reading by anyone who wants to understand the FBAR rules and find the current forms and explanations.

So confuse about UK and US taxes.
i am LPR(GreenCard holder) of US living and working in UK on spouse visa. I did filed the tax return for 2010 because half of year i worked in US. I know i still have to file tax return for US every year.
My question is do i have file UK taxes return as well?
And how I'll file the 2011's tax return for US? On my pay stub is only two type of  tax deductions, I.N and Income tax. How I'll know which is federal and state tax.
 Thank you

My question is do i have file UK taxes return as well?

Tax returns in the UK aren't usually done unless you're self employed or not on the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) where you're employer takes the taxes out of your earnings for you.

Though I do recall some friends received a notice that they needed to file tax returns from HMRC and they were on the PAYE. So if you're on PAYE you don't have to file unless HMRC tells you that you need to file.

THANK YOU ''WEBYJ''.
MY EMPLOYER IS DEDUCTING THE TWO TYPE OF TAX FROM MY PAYSTUB, INCOME TAX AND N.I. TAX.
MY CONCERN IS WHEN I AM GOING TO FILE TAX, HOW IT WILL BE? BECAUSE ON MY PAYSTUB NO FEDRAL TAX AND SOCIAL SECURITY DEDUTION.
DO I HAVE TO FILE THE INCOME AFTER DEDUCTION OR DEDUCTION WILL BE ADD?
KIND OF CONFUSE ABOUT ALL THIS:(

My wife has been over here for almost two years. She started work in October, it's part time, and she's probably earned about £1200 so far.

She last did her tax return in 2010 - she didn't do them last year as she didn't earn anything in the period between then and 2010.

Does she need to file taxes this year? I've seen a few posts stating you don't need to if you didn't earn over $8000, which (roughly) is £4500, which she isn't anywhere near.

Does she need to file? Should we wait until next year?

She doesn't have to file if she's under the threshold. However she can file and may be entitled to a refund. So she doesn't HAVE to but it might be worth it to file (MFS of course).

Have a look at this website (US Embassy in London's IRS website) for detailed information:
http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/irswho.html

Thank you, WebyJ. I'll take a look at that link. Much appreciated!

Don't overlook that she might still have to file FBARS even if not income tax returns.

Hi all,

I am a dual national, born in Florida to UK citizens, then we all moved back here when I was 5 years old.  I hold both passports, though I've lived and worked here my whole life, now 32.  As I moved here as a dependent, I'm pretty sure that I'm domiciled here, with full ordinary residency.  I've had a few part time jobs, and been self employed as a photographer for the past 5 years.  (earning well under $90k...!)

Can you let me know what my status is with regards to filing US tax returns?  Like several above, until this came up in a random conversation I had no idea it was something I needed to know about.

Many thanks for your help.

Rich

You're a US citizen, so you need to file if you pass the threshold. Domicile is irrelevant for federal taxes. Sorry.

Hi all,

I am a dual national, born in Florida to UK citizens, then we all moved back here when I was 5 years old.  I hold both passports, though I've lived and worked here my whole life, now 32.  As I moved here as a dependent, I'm pretty sure that I'm domiciled here, with full ordinary residency.  I've had a few part time jobs, and been self employed as a photographer for the past 5 years.  (earning well under $90k...!)

Can you let me know what my status is with regards to filing US tax returns?  Like several above, until this came up in a random conversation I had no idea it was something I needed to know about.

Many thanks for your help.

Rich

You should have been filing US Federal Tax Returns any time your income was over the threashold amount for your filing status (which I am assuming is 'single') aprox $3,500/yr. So you probably need to go back and see how many back years you need to file. You'll also need to get a Social Security Card & number in order to be able to do so (if you don't already have one).

You might find this page interesting from the IRS (Interna Revenue Service) about being an 'accidental American': http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=244868,00.html

And the US Embassy in London's IRS webpage as well has good information & contacts: http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/index.html

I must admit it is all confusing to me. However I still file even though I am not currently working. All I do is pay Tubo Tax for the fee and that is it. Therefore if I chose to move back to the USA or for some other reason the IRS tracks me down, and can at least show them that I have filed my taxes. Good luck.

Stupid qeustion,

Can anyone tell me where I go to get the Tax forms to file? I'm 25 years old, and never have filied them myself. (my mother had done it for me...) The last time I have done was back in 2007, since that time until March of last year, I had not worked AT ALL (so ashamed...) I moved here (UK) Janurary of 2011 and started work in March, sooo... i'm at a loss as to what to do... lol

Thanks in Advanced!

~Shae

No such thing as a stupid question. -)

Assuming you did not file previous years as you're income was under the reporting limit, give www.TaxAct.com a try. It's free for federal returns and although I've not used it, I understand it's a user friendly system. It will ask the questions in a Q&A manner, then file the tax return and submit to the IRS electronically. If you want the forms for manual submition then go to www.irs.gov

The only problem I see is that you don't have an adjusted gross income from 2010, (AGI) The software will use this figure. You may have to mail the return in if this is the case

Ok, that doesn't sound too horrible Thanks for the reply!