So confused

I have never done my taxes on my own before and I am so confused what I need to do and what i don't need.  and the now added I work and live in the UK makes it more confusing. What forms do I need. PLEASE ANY HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!  I have been in the UK all of tax season 2019 so I have nothing to report stateside.

Thanks in advance
Amber

Your circumstances may well be simple enough you can file for free under the IRS free-file program. I just had a look at it and it does include "overseas" as  a place of residence.  Since it is free you may want to take a look. I live in England I'm a dual USC/UKC so also need to file US taxes each year. I personally use TurboTax but that requires a US credit card with US address to buy, and I need something like TT as my taxes are fairly complex. Since I need to buy TT each year my son uses it on my laptop for free and doing his taxes is quick and easy. Like yourself he has no US income at all, just UK wages which he excludes with form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion). Since he has zero US income he pays UK taxes through PAYE, so does not file HMRC Self Assessment.

https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/jsp/wizard.jsp?

yeah i got the 2555 ready. and a 1040 but don't know if i need that or not. I honestly have no idea what i need and what do i need to include. I have a p60 from my employer. (their version of a w-2) do i need to include that. I'm not sure if i am overreacting but i feel completely stupid when it comes to this. i have never don't this for myself and I just don't know where to start. grrrrr

yeah i got the 2555 ready. and a 1040 but don't know if i need that or not. I honestly have no idea what i need and what do i need to include. I have a p60 from my employer. (their version of a w-2) do i need to include that. I'm not sure if i am overreacting but i feel completely stupid when it comes to this. i have never don't this for myself and I just don't know where to start. grrrrr

You do not need to include any P60s or other proofs of UK income, but keep them with your copy of your return in case you are audited. (Unlikely).

For foreign earned income form 2555 holds all the info needed.

I receive 2 P60s for my 2 UK private pensions. Again I do not have to send in copies of the P60s but instead have to complete substitute 1099-R forms.

P60s cover April to April so are useless to the IRS, you need to keep your own calendar year record of your income. In my case pensions, in your case wages.

thank you so much for the help. I really do appreciate it.

Hi Amber!

Where in Wales? I'm in Cardiff. Whatever you do, DEFINITELY get that tax return in. You will be subject to fines, even if you don't owe anything. I believe you automatically qualify for an extension through October. Double-check the IRS website. Things have changed with COVID-19 towards greater grace.

Also, you may still qualify for the stimulus, which is automatically deposited to whatever US bank account you used to receive previous refunds (if you ever did).

I highly recommend using the free version of TurboTax. They'll keep your returns in the cloud, so you can pick it up again next year. I am self-employed, so I use the paid version but did use the free version in the past.

You can do this!

all done...and sending it today thank you both for the advice and help.. GREATLY APPRECIATED!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU...