Can anyone recommend UK & US Tax return service?

I've given up!
Trying to do our US tax return - first time filing as expat - I've tried using TurboTax but sadly it's rather beyond me and so looking for help doing both US & UK tax returns.

I've tried contacting HT-Tax Ltd but their email bounces back.
I've contacted AmericanUKTax solutions but 5 days have gone by and no email or call back.

Prefer a smaller company rather than the usual big guys.

Appreciate any referral.

I tried to get hold of AmericanUKTax solutions a couple months ago as well. No response. I might try one more time.

Do you REALLY need a professional? Unless your tax situation is very complicated, it's likely you don't.

From earlier posts, I remember you arrived in the UK in early 2013. When did your spouse arrive, and what is her status in the US - green card holder, dual national, or zilch? Did you work in the UK? What US source income did you have AFTER the move, if any? What part of Turbo Tax is giving you grief?

Step back and take a deep breath. You have an automatic extension for filing; this is the 'busy season' for professionals, and your crisis is just one of many for them - they will respond when convenient....on their timeline, not yours. Personally, I would avoid any firm that can't even acknowledge an email or call, if only to say "we're busy, will get to you as soon as we can, but you are #4,253 in the queue".

Thank you for taking the time to reply and calm my panic.

Good memory, we did arrive in the spring of 2013 - Spouse has dual citizenship. We are both self-employed with income from US & UK.

Thank goodness for the automatic extension!

I have happily used TurboTax for the past 15 years but now, as an expat, there are many points where I'm confused: Just one example...don't want to bore you with them all:
Self-employment tax - I'm paying National Insurance in the UK so I understand that I shouldn't have to pay the SE tax in the US but TurboTax doesn't seem to acknowledge that and wants me to pay it.

First time around I'd would feel much happier having a professional.
 

You are correct - if you pay NI contributions, you don't pay SE tax. That's the problem with programs like TurboTax. Since you are likely doing a Schedule C in TT, it leads to the SE tax calculation. In this case, SE would likely be due on income earned prior to the move, but that's just gut opinion from a lay person who was also self-employed in the US (retired now).

What might work for you is to use TT up to the point of figuring the SE tax - just to see how the other calculations float out, including taking tax credit for UK tax paid or accrued and using the alternative of earned income exclusion. You might well be able to then file on paper. Not fun, but may well be easier than you think.

I understand how you feel about using a professional - for comfort - but it's hard to know which one to use. Some 'advice' I've seen on various forums from professionals touting for business was shal we say, less than correct.....

One bit is easy - you will file a joint return, declaring worldwide income, and don't forget the separate FBAR filing if the aggregate value of foreign financial accounts was $10K or more at any point during 2013, even for a nano second. That is filed online, and just a reporting form; easy to do in most cases.

Thank you for breaking it down. You've certainly clarified the SE vs the NIC aspect. Much appreciated.

We were already figuring on having to do the dreaded FBAR. I am even game to try doing that ourselves. I was advised that although it is tedious it's possible for the novice.

Re: FBAR - start here: http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Report-of-Foreign-Bank-and-Financial-Accounts-FBAR

Don't "overthink" or "awfulize" the FBAR by obsessing about what is and is not a 'financial account'.
Your bank accounts - pretty obvious, and generally anything else that generates interest income plus a few other things like securities accounts, annuities etc. Read this, particularly page 5 & 6 for info on other accounts that are reportable:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-02-24/pdf/2011-4048.pdf

The FBAR must be e-filed - and June 30 is the deadline. I  think the form is pretty straightforward; but I tend to have 'read the question and give the answer' approach rather than look for the possible/maybe/potential/could be/might be 'hidden meaning' or 'gotcha' clause. 

Great links - thank you.

I like your attitude to the FBAR.

In the meantime, guess I'll keep slogging away at the Federal return and pray.

Thank you again for the support.