Do I ned to file a tax return in America?

Question

I am an American English teacher in S. Korea.I was told by a tax consultant in the U.S. that I didnt have to file a return in the US if I didnt have any employment there or have any w-2 forms to report and didnt make over 80K a year.I pay the Koran taxes here.Does anyone have a definitive answer?

Answer 1

I think you'll want to go to http://www.irs.gov and look up Publication 54. That gives the instructions on how US citizens who live abroad should file their taxes. My understanding is that even if you're living in South Korea as an American citizen, you still need to file the US Form 1040 to claim your exclusion from US income taxes. I believe it is Form 2555 that you'll need to attach to the return. The tax consultant was correct insofar as the $80,000 is concerned. If your income overseas is less than that, you do have an exclusion. I'm not aware that actually excludes you from filing, though.

You may want to check with the US Consulate in South Korea. Nearly all of the consulates offer tax advice to Americans living abroad.

Good luck!

Answer 2

You have to file US income tax if you are an American citizen. The US is one of the few countries in the world that requires that you file your income tax when you are working and earning income outside the US. The Korean taxes can be used as credit to offset most, if not all, of your US tax, but you still have to file. You can get additional instructions and clarification from the IRS website..

Answer 3

Nowhere. You had to efile your 2007 return via 10/15/2008. Too overdue now. you will would desire to paper report it. odzooker is erroneous with regard to the scale of time to report. you have 3 years to report a return the place a reimbursement is due. 2007 return submitting cut-off date for a reimbursement is 4/15/2011.

Answer 4

It has nothing to do with who your employer is. Those who have advised filing are correct. US citizens are taxable on worldwide income, subject to the credits and deductions already mentioned.

Answer 5

If you are not employeed by a US company you don't have to pay the taxes. If you are employed by a US company and made more than 80,000 you can deduct the taxes you paid in Korea.

Answer 6

I think you still have to file, but you may not own any tax. Try asking the IRS.

Answer 7

Go to this site it is very helpful. You will need to file but $80,000 can be treated as non taxable.


http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/index.html