Hi ALl.

I moved to the USA in November 2006, and got married on a K1 fiance visa December 1st 2006.

I was self emplyed from Jan 06 - Nov 06 when I left. I didnt file a tax return before I left, or notifly them I moved abroad. I have been ignoring it hoping it will go away.......I think I needed to file this JAn 07 for the end of that tax year, and then what do i do with this tax year?

I have 2 questions (morals aside)

1; Will the USA find out when I do AOS and could it effect me?
2; Will the uk tax people find me, or just ignore it if i am not at that address.

I feel so bad about this and keep putting off doing anything cos I know I dont have the money for a tax bill, and I figure with a new name in a new country it wont matter? I know thats bad....Any ideas anyone?
I did pay tax as a PAYE before I went self employed.

I really wouldn't ignore it. I would get in touch with the Inland Revenue and arrange a payment plan.

I don't think that they will 'find' you (at present), but I think they add interest on overdue taxes. So, if you want to go back to the UK (never say never...), in, say, ten years' time, you might find you have a particularly large tax bill on your return.

Of course, it could be a matter of time before systems across countries get 'joined' up, so I really would get in touch with them. If it were me, this would be making me very anxious because I hate having things which hang over me like that.

1 - No, this will not affect your AOS in any way.
2 - Who knows - they may at some point??

I was self-employed in the UK too. I was a tax and NI payer but that is not the point. This is just my experience with the tax office and being self-employed.

The only thing I think it would affect is if you returned to the UK and started work again. Never say never and all that. I assume, because there was no tax paid, and they did not even know you were working, there is still the issue of NI contributions unless you were registered as unemployed. That means your NI contributions have not been paid for those months. Most would argue that there probably won't be a pension available for you when you retire, but NI contributions also count towards sick pay and other things I can't be arsed to look up. Again, this isn't relevant to you if you plan on never returning, but that is the question no one can answer from the future, near or far.

I don't know. That's the only thing I can see happening. But like Mark says, going back at some point would make it difficult, and there would be a huge bill waiting for you once you kick into the system again.

Personally, I'm too much of a worrier too. Call your local tax office back home. I have ALWAYS had very good luck with their staff. They are friendly and helpful, and surprisingly know what they're doing most of the time! But that is your choice. For now, you don't have to worry yourself -- people have done a lot worse! PM me if you need help.

Thanks!
My Husband doesnt know, and I keep putting it off. I think I will take a couple of days to think about it, its only a few months worth of tax, and I plan on not going back to the U"K as all my family is in the US anyway. But you never know how things turn out, so maybe I will call them????? hmmmmmnwhat to do!
Thanks for the adice, I may come back to this again....