4 ms·

It depends on which country you're in, and whether they have any tax agreements with the US. In some countries like Switzerland you get double taxed.

telesilla 8y ago
She is a U.S. citizen, she thought it was irrelevant what country she is in? She is also under the threshold (whatever it is) and has no tax to pay.
- eesmith 8y ago
  Does https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/expat-guide/filing-taxes-abroad/ https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/expat-guide/fi... help? Even if you don't want to use their services, there are pointers about some of the relevant topics, like https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/articles/fbar-fatca-filing-requirements.html https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/articles/fbar-...
  - telesilla 8y ago
    Thanks. A quick review of these links ultimately point to "pay us to do the hard work" for $300-500 - a lot of money for her. It seems ridiculously unfair to be submitted to this process when the preference should be like it is in my home country, if you don't make above the threshold, you don't file. Forcing everyone to file, who is making money or not, is brutal.
    - eesmith 8y ago
      I did a search for "expat American taxes" and found https://www.internationalcitizens.com/finances/tax-filing-american-expats.php https://www.internationalcitizens.com/finances/tax-filing-am... . Add a country for more country-specific results, like for the UK at https://www.taxesforexpats.com/uk/us-tax-preparation-in-uk.html https://www.taxesforexpats.com/uk/us-tax-preparation-in-uk.h... and Germany https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/ustaxes.html https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/ustaxes.html . The latter mentions "IRS Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, which should answer most of your questions" then adds "Due to the complexity of both the U.S. and German tax systems and their interaction with one another, it is always recommended that you hire a tax consultant (Steuerberater/CPA) or a professional US Tax preparer to guide you through the intricacies involved in filing returns as well as to provide some ease of mind during your stay abroad".

telesilla 8y ago

She is a U.S. citizen, she thought it was irrelevant what country she is in? She is also under the threshold (whatever it is) and has no tax to pay.

eesmith 8y ago
Does https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/expat-guide/filing-taxes-abroad/ https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/expat-guide/fi... help? Even if you don't want to use their services, there are pointers about some of the relevant topics, like https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/articles/fbar-fatca-filing-requirements.html https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/articles/fbar-...
- telesilla 8y ago
  Thanks. A quick review of these links ultimately point to "pay us to do the hard work" for $300-500 - a lot of money for her. It seems ridiculously unfair to be submitted to this process when the preference should be like it is in my home country, if you don't make above the threshold, you don't file. Forcing everyone to file, who is making money or not, is brutal.
  - eesmith 8y ago
    I did a search for "expat American taxes" and found https://www.internationalcitizens.com/finances/tax-filing-american-expats.php https://www.internationalcitizens.com/finances/tax-filing-am... . Add a country for more country-specific results, like for the UK at https://www.taxesforexpats.com/uk/us-tax-preparation-in-uk.html https://www.taxesforexpats.com/uk/us-tax-preparation-in-uk.h... and Germany https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/ustaxes.html https://www.howtogermany.com/pages/ustaxes.html . The latter mentions "IRS Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, which should answer most of your questions" then adds "Due to the complexity of both the U.S. and German tax systems and their interaction with one another, it is always recommended that you hire a tax consultant (Steuerberater/CPA) or a professional US Tax preparer to guide you through the intricacies involved in filing returns as well as to provide some ease of mind during your stay abroad".