Blog   /   Americans Living Abroad

August 24, 2018 - William Shiraga

File an Income Tax Return Extension to December 15, 2018

If you are an American living abroad and sweating the October 15, 2018 tax filing deadline for your 2017 income tax returns, there is a possible piece of relief. You may be able to qualify for a further extension of time for filing your tax return — to December 15, 2018.

Summary

For American taxpayers living abroad, if you want to get a filing deadline of December 15, 2018 for your 2017 Form 1040, do this:

• On or before June 15, 2018, file Form 4868.
• On or before June 15, 2018, pay whatever tax you have to pay for 2017, along with that Form 4868 you are filing.

... continue reading

June 11, 2018 - Phil Hodgen

Resident for Income Tax Purposes but Not Gift Tax Purposes

I received an email from a practitioner this morning and figured it’s worth a blog post.

Reader C in Sydney asked me:

Hi Phil,

Would a MFJ couple (US citizen and NRA Spouse) using Sec 6013(g) Election qualify for Unlimited Spousal transfer from decedent US Citizen?  Inquiring minds would like to know 🙂

Election to be a U.S. taxpayer

Nonresidents who are married to U.S. persons (citizens or residents for income tax purposes) can choose to be fully subject to U.S. income tax laws.  Ordinarily, a sane person would attempt to avoid this status, if possible.

But sometimes we do the math and it actually saves tax overall to do so.  ... continue reading

September 14, 2017 - William Shiraga

Income Tax Return Extension Until December 15, 2017

If you are an American living abroad and sweating the October 15 tax filing deadline for your 2016 income tax returns, there is a possible piece of relief. You may be able to qualify for a further extension of time for filing your tax return — to December 15, 2017.

Summary

For American taxpayers living abroad, if you want to get a filing deadline of December 15, 2017 for your 2016 Form 1040, do this:

• On or before June 15, 2017, file Form 4868.
• On or before June 15, 2017, pay whatever tax you have to pay for 2016, along with that Form 4868 you are filing.

... continue reading

June 9, 2017 - Phil Hodgen

Income Tax Return Filing Deadlines for Americans Abroad

Answers In a Hurry

Here are the answers in a hurry:

When You Must File Your Income Tax Return

• April 15. If your “tax home” or “abode” is in the United States, your filing deadline is April 15. This is the default rule.​
• June 15. If your “tax home” or “abode” is outside the United States, your deadline for filing your income tax return is June 15. This is automatic and you do not need to do anything to get it.
• October 15. Anyone can file Form 4868 to make extend the filing deadline to October 15. File before April 15 or June 15 (whichever applies to you).

... continue reading

June 6, 2017 - Phil Hodgen

Canadian Treaty Relief from Double Taxation

Covered expatriates risk being taxed twice: once by the United States on assets they own when when they expatriate, and a second time by their home country when they sell assets or take pension distributions.

The double taxation problem has been largely solved for expatriates who live in Canada, but not (as far as I know) for other residents of countries.

What’s a Double Taxation Problem?

Let’s talk first about what a double-taxation problem is. It occurs because two countries want to tax you, and neither country cares that the other country taxed you.

Two Countries Claim You

If you are a taxpayer in two different countries, both countries will impose their domestic tax laws on you, and insist on the right to force you to pay tax on your income.... continue reading