Publication 54 - Tax Guide For U.s. Citizens And Resident Aliens Abord - 2011 Page 39
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44Questions and Answers
the physical presence test. How-
Overseas taxpayers can deduct
30 days beyond the date you ex-
This section answers tax-
ever, if my company recalls me
their estimated housing deduction
pect to qualify as a bona fide resi-
related questions commonly asked
to the United States before the
in figuring their estimated tax.
dent.
by taxpayers living abroad.
end of the qualifying period and I
The first installment of esti-
find I will not qualify for the ex-
12) I am a U.S. citizen who
mated tax is due on April 15 of the
Filing Requirements —
clusion, how and when should I
worked in the United States for 6
year for which the income is
Where, When, and How
file my return?
months last year. I accepted em-
earned.
ployment overseas in July of last
1) When are U.S. income tax re-
If your regular filing date has
year and expect to qualify for the
8) Will a check payable in foreign
turns due?
passed, you should file a return,
foreign earned income exclu-
currency be acceptable in pay-
Form 1040, as soon as possible for
sion. Should I file a return and
ment of my U.S. tax?
Generally, for calendar year tax-
last year. Include a statement with
pay tax on the income earned in
payers, U.S. income tax returns are
this return noting that you have re-
the United States during the first
Generally, only U.S. currency is ac-
due on April 15. If you are a U.S.
turned to the United States and will
6 months and then, when I qual-
ceptable for payment of income
citizen or resident and both your tax
not qualify for the foreign earned
ify, file another return covering
tax. However, if you are a Fulbright
home and your abode are outside
income exclusion. You must report
the last 6 months of the year?
grantee, see Fulbright Grant in
the United States and Puerto Rico
your worldwide income on the re-
chapter 1.
on the regular due date, an auto-
turn. If you paid a foreign tax on the
No. You have the choice of one of
matic extension is granted to June
income earned abroad, you may be
the following two methods of filing
9) I have met the test for physical
15 for filing the return. Interest will
able to either deduct this tax as an
your return:
presence in a foreign country
be charged on any tax due, as
itemized deduction or claim it as a
a) You can file your return when
and am filing returns for 2 years.
shown on the return, from April 15.
credit against your U.S. income
Must I file a separate Form 2555
due under the regular filing rules,
tax.
(or Form 2555-EZ) with each re-
report all your income without ex-
2) I am going abroad this year
However, if you pay the tax due
turn?
cluding your foreign earned in-
and expect to qualify for the for-
after the regular due date, interest
come, and pay the tax due. After
eign earned income exclusion.
will be charged from the regular
Yes. A Form 2555 (or Form
you have qualified for the exclu-
How can I secure an extension of
due date until the date the tax is
2555-EZ) must be filed with each
sion, you can file an amended re-
time to file my return, when
paid.
Form 1040 tax return on which the
turn, Form 1040X, accompanied by
should I file my return, and what
benefits of income earned abroad
forms are required?
Form 2555 (or 2555-EZ), for a re-
5) I am a U.S. citizen and have no
are claimed.
fund of any excess tax paid.
taxable income from the United
a) You should file Form 2350 by
States, but I have substantial in-
b) You can postpone the filing of
10) Does a Form 2555 (or
the due date of your return to re-
come from a foreign source. Am
your tax return by applying on Form
2555-EZ) with a Schedule C or
quest an extension of time to file.
I required to file a U.S. income
2350 for an extension of time to file
Form W-2 attached constitute a
Form 2350 is a special form for
tax return?
to a date 30 days beyond the date
return?
those U.S. citizens or residents
you expect to qualify under either
abroad who expect to qualify for the
Yes. All U.S. citizens and resident
the bona fide residence test or the
No. The Form 2555 (or 2555-EZ),
foreign earned income exclusion or
aliens are subject to U.S. tax on
physical presence test, then file
Schedule C, and Form W-2 are
the housing exclusion or deduction
their worldwide income. If you paid
your return reflecting the exclusion
merely attachments and do not re-
under either the bona fide resi-
taxes to a foreign government on
of foreign earned income. This al-
lieve you of the requirement to file a
dence test or physical presence
income from sources outside the
lows you to file only once and
Form 1040 to show the sources of
test and would like to have an ex-
United States, you may be able to
saves you from paying the tax and
income reported and the exclu-
tension of time to delay filing until
claim a foreign tax credit against
waiting for a refund. However, in-
sions or deductions claimed.
after they have qualified.
your U.S. income tax liability for the
terest is charged on any tax due on
b) If the extension is granted,
foreign taxes paid. Form 1116 is
11) On Form 2350, Application
the postponed tax return, but inter-
you should file your return after you
used to figure the allowable credit.
for Extension of Time To File
est is not paid on refunds paid
qualify, but by the approved exten-
U.S. Income Tax Return, I stated
within 45 days after the return is
6) I am a U.S. citizen who has
sion date.
that I would qualify for the for-
filed. If you have moving expenses
retired, and I expect to remain in
c) You must file your Form 1040
eign earned income exclusion
that are for services performed in
a foreign country. Do I have any
with Form 2555 (or Form 2555-EZ).
under the physical presence
two years, you can be granted an
further U.S. tax obligations?
test. If I qualify under the bona
extension until after the end of the
3) My entire income qualifies for
fide residence test, can I file my
second year.
Your U.S. tax obligation on your
the foreign earned income exclu-
return on that basis?
income is the same as that of a
sion. Must I file a tax return?
13) I am a U.S. citizen. I have
retired person living in the United
Yes. You can claim the foreign
lived abroad for a number of
States. (See the discussion on fil-
Generally, yes. Every U.S. citizen
earned income exclusion and the
years and recently realized that I
ing requirements in chapter 1 of
or resident who receives income
foreign housing exclusion or de-
should have been filing U.S. in-
this publication.)
must file a U.S. income tax return
duction under either test as long as
come tax returns. How do I cor-
unless total income without regard
you meet the requirements. You
rect this oversight in not having
7) I have been a bona fide resi-
to the foreign earned income exclu-
are not bound by the test indicated
filed returns for these years?
dent of a foreign country for over
sion is below an amount based on
in the application for extension of
5 years. Is it necessary for me to
filing status. The income levels for
time. You must be sure, however,
File the late returns as soon as pos-
pay estimated tax?
filing purposes are discussed
that you file the Form 1040 by the
sible, stating your reason for filing
under Filing Requirements in chap-
date approved on Form 2350,
late. For advice on filing the re-
U.S. taxpayers overseas have the
ter 1.
since a return filed after that date
turns, you should contact either an
same requirements for paying esti-
may be subject to a failure to file
Internal Revenue Service repre-
mated tax as those in the United
4) I was sent abroad by my com-
penalty.
sentative in one of the four over-
States. See the discussion under
pany in November of last year. I
If you will not qualify under the
seas offices listed in chapter 7, or
Estimated Tax in chapter 1.
plan to secure an extension of
an Internal Revenue official who
Overseas taxpayers should not
bona fide residence test until a date
time on Form 2350 to file my tax
include in their estimated income
later than the extension granted
travels through your area (details
return for last year because I ex-
any income they receive that is, or
under the physical presence rule,
can be obtained from your nearest
pect to qualify for the foreign
earned income exclusion under
will be, exempt from U.S. taxation.
apply for a new extension to a date
U.S. consulate or Embassy).
Publication 54 (2011)
Page 39
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