| There is great confusion among expatriates about the | | | | A tax return filing is considered filed on the |
| requirements for filing a tax return from abroad. Many | | | | postmarked date. But tax payments, incur no interest if |
| people believe if they are earning income under the | | | | received by the IRS on or before the due date. |
| exclusion level of $ 85,700 (for 2007) they are not | | | | Expatriates who have not been filing, but wish to |
| required to file. This is false. If your total income from all | | | | commence filing and take advantage of exclusions |
| sources is in the range of $3,400 to $ 19,600 or over, | | | | and tax credits, can "come in from the cold" by writing |
| depending on your age and filing status, (e.g. single, | | | | a specific letter request. Even though it is criminal not |
| married, joint, separate, etc.) you must file an IRS return. | | | | to file, the IRS started this program to allow the many |
| Failure to file is criminal evasion. | | | | expatriate tax payers to get started filing before the |
| April 15th is the filing deadline when residing in the U.S. | | | | IRS finds them ! With your letter request, you must file |
| June 15th is the deadline for filing when residing abroad. | | | | the current year and two previous years if you owe |
| Also, deadlines can be automatically extended to | | | | no taxes, or file the current year and five previous |
| October 15th, without stating a reason, by filing a simple | | | | years if you owe taxes. |
| form before June 15th. A further extension for a valid | | | | Under the Dual Tax Treaty between the U.S. and |
| reason can be obtained by filing another form for an | | | | another country (includes European countries) |
| additional time period. But this one requires permission | | | | attempts are made to avoid double taxation by both |
| by return notification from the IRS, and must then be | | | | countries' tax regulations on the same income. |
| sent in with your tax return. Meeting the above dates | | | | Nevertheless, one must file the proper documents to |
| relieves the expatriate from a late filing penalty, but if | | | | gain exemption from U.S. taxes up to a certain income |
| there are taxes due for the previous year that are | | | | level, and credit for foreign taxes paid on excess |
| unpaid, or not covered by Estimated tax payments, the | | | | income above the exclusion level, in order to avoid |
| amount due incurs interest from April 15th and a late | | | | double taxation. |
| payment penalty. | | | | |