Usually file 1040EZ back home, what do I do?! Completely in the dark!!!

Hi,

This is the first year I will have to file my US taxes since I left, and I am completely in the dark. I am currently a student and only worked from Feb to Sept this year. What forms do I fill out?! I normally fill out a 1040EZ.

Thanks!

You will need to tell us a little more about yourself and circumstances for anyone to offer meaningful opinions. What is your citizenship, your residency and dates and earnings history?

I am a US citizen, here on a provisional spousal visa, and earned around the £12,000 mark. I am currently a student.

For basic cases where you just have employment income less than $92,000 and nothing more complicated, use 1040 + 2555-EZ to exclude your foreign income if you meet the requirements for doing so (the instructions are on the form to figure out if you do). If you have any bank accounts that earn interest, add Schedule B, and if you have a combination of bank accounts that at any point in 2012 added up to more than $10,000 (even for just a day), you have to file an FBAR (TDF 90-22.1) with the treasury department too.

For basic cases where you just have employment income less than $92,000 and nothing more complicated, use 1040 + 2555-EZ to exclude your foreign income if you meet the requirements for doing so (the instructions are on the form to figure out if you do). If you have any bank accounts that earn interest, add Schedule B, and if you have a combination of bank accounts that at any point in 2012 added up to more than $10,000 (even for just a day), you have to file an FBAR (TDF 90-22.1) with the treasury department too.

Yes, but with some caveats.

The OP will have to qualify to file the 2555-EZ on the physical presence test rather than the bona fide residence test if they haven't been resident in the UK for a full tax year yet. So they should make sure they have been a UK resident for at least 330 out of the last 365 before they file. The FEIE will then be pro rated by the amount of the tax year they spent in the UK. Alternatively they could take credit for UK tax paid on 1116.