Tag Archive for Streamlined Procedure

Understanding U.S. Federal Taxes For American Expats

The USA is almost unique in taxing U.S. citizens even when they live abroad. This means that expats who earn over $10,000 ($10,300 for 2016, to be precise, or just $400 of self-employment income) are required to file a U.S. federal tax return, regardless of where their income originates, or whether they are also paying taxes elsewhere.

While expats still have to pay any U.S. tax they may owe by April 15th, they have until June 15th to file, with a further extension available on request to October 15th. Read More

Written by | Posted in Expatriate

Court Blocks Attempt To Transfer From OVDP To Streamlined

Ephraim Moss

In a very recent decision (Maze v. IRS), the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court decision blocking several taxpayers’ efforts to leave the OVDP tax amnesty program and enter the friendlier IRS Streamlined program without utilizing the required transition rules.

The Maze case demonstrates the importance of choosing the IRS tax amnesty program that is right for you from the outset. Read More

Written by | Posted in International

Exactly What Income Can U.S. Expats Exclude? FEIE

American expats are, unfortunately, still required to file U.S. taxes from abroad. Thankfully though, there are several exclusions that reduce or in most cases eliminate their U.S. tax liability. The foremost among these is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Not owing U.S. taxes doesn’t exempt expats from having to file a U.S. tax return though, as the exclusions that reduce or eliminate U.S. tax liability for expats must be claimed each year when expats file their federal return. Read More

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Will The IRS Streamlined Procedure For Expats Be Revoked?

Hugo Lesser

For decades, U.S. expats lived in peace, beyond the reach of the American tax system, despite being theoretically obligated to file U.S. taxes on their worldwide income from abroad by American’s citizenship based taxation regime.

Then came FATCA, the 2010 Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Designed to address tax evasion in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, FATCA requires all foreign banks and investment firms to provide details of their American account holders to the IRS. Read More

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How Can American Expats Reduce Their IRS Taxes?

Hugo Lesser

Americans living abroad are still required to file U.S. taxes. The U.S. is the only country that requires its expats to file. It is because the U.S. taxes based on citizenship rather than on residence. Read More

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New IRS Instructions For Amending A Streamlined Submission

Recently, the IRS updated its Frequently Asked Questions and Answers page for the Streamlined Procedures to include a new section on amending Streamlined submissions. Since the inception of the Streamlined amnesty program, there has been some uncertainty as to how taxpayers should proceed if they realize, after the fact, that they have made a mistake on a Streamlined submission.

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Written by | Posted in IRS