I'll let the actual expats weigh in, but you really do need to talk to an accountant. You will be told what your options are. Then you will know, and can stop f

I'll let the actual expats weigh in, but you really do need to talk to an accountant. You will be told what your options are. Then you will know, and can stop freaking out. This is 2013, so you can consult US-based accountants over the phone. The initial discussion will likely take an hour or so and cost at most a couple hundred dollars. Ask about the fee in advance. There is a chance that a friendly accountant will explain the steps for you for cheap, as part of the sales process for future business. Who said anything about "every year"? Consult an accountant once, to learn the score. Then decide whether or not you want to consult one again. That you are apparently culturally conditioned to believe that accountants are ultra-rare tools of the super-elite explains a lot about why you sound so nervous. Accountants are a routine in the USA. Mine costs a few hundred bucks a year, easily pays for his own services in taxes-saved, and much more importantly provides a lot of peace of mind. I often have to guess what laws and forms and fine print might apply to me, but accountants know, as part of their job.