4 ms·

I did the tax forms myself when living abroad, precisely because I didn't earn enough income to afford the $1000 cost (in fact, it was perhaps twice this, in Sw

I did the tax forms myself when living abroad, precisely because I didn't earn enough income to afford the $1000 cost (in fact, it was perhaps twice this, in Switzerland, based on my cursory Googling at the time). It routinely took over a week of working days, which was only possible because I had a sympathetic boss and generous vacation time. It's also quite stressful, since there are many ambiguous questions, most of the proprietary tax software is ill-equipped to consider the situation of an American living abroad, and a wrong answer can subject you to audit.

Svip 5y ago
What are the consequences to not filing? My wife is a US citizen, and she hasn't filed for two years. I've met other US citizens that don't file either. So far I have not heard of any issues relating to not filing.
- asguy 5y ago
  I know a US citizen who hasn’t filed in 34 years. I wonder what the penalty would look like if she ever takes a job in the US again.
- jfk13 5y ago
  Does she earn much? If her income is low enough, she may be exempt from filing. https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/other-income/how-much-do-you-have-to-make-to-file-taxes/ https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/other-income/how-m... (Note that I am not a tax professional and you should not rely on anything I say.)
  - BayAreaEscapee 5y ago
    It doesn't matter. If she has bank accounts abroad exceeding the threshold, she's obliged to file just to disclose her foreign bank accounts.
- 001Diana 5y ago
  The issue is that the US can determine she didn’t file, file for her, and assess fines/tax. Once that gets to $50k she can’t renew her passport, and can no longer enter or leave the US as the law states she can’t use her foreign passport if a US citizen. If she lives in a country that assists the IRS with collection, they can reach in and take it. They have all her bank details from FBAR filing.

Svip 5y ago

What are the consequences to not filing? My wife is a US citizen, and she hasn't filed for two years. I've met other US citizens that don't file either. So far I have not heard of any issues relating to not filing.

asguy 5y ago
I know a US citizen who hasn’t filed in 34 years. I wonder what the penalty would look like if she ever takes a job in the US again.
jfk13 5y ago
Does she earn much? If her income is low enough, she may be exempt from filing. https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/other-income/how-much-do-you-have-to-make-to-file-taxes/ https://www.hrblock.com/tax-center/income/other-income/how-m... (Note that I am not a tax professional and you should not rely on anything I say.)
- BayAreaEscapee 5y ago
  It doesn't matter. If she has bank accounts abroad exceeding the threshold, she's obliged to file just to disclose her foreign bank accounts.
001Diana 5y ago
The issue is that the US can determine she didn’t file, file for her, and assess fines/tax. Once that gets to $50k she can’t renew her passport, and can no longer enter or leave the US as the law states she can’t use her foreign passport if a US citizen. If she lives in a country that assists the IRS with collection, they can reach in and take it. They have all her bank details from FBAR filing.