Tax Returns

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Ok, so just yesterday I found out that I was indeed SUPPOSED to file US tax returns despite being in the United Kingdom. I have been in the UK since July 2006 and I have no idea where to start. Out of the ~40 months I have lived in the UK, I have only worked for the following time periods:

October-November 2006, August 2007-March 2008, and September 2008 - June 2009. I have never filed a tax return, as I was only 18 when I moved over here and nobody (not even my immigration lawyer) told me I would need to continue filing tax returns. I do not know where to start on filing my tax returns, can anyone offer me advice or help?

[Christi and Ian 24]

Ok, so just yesterday I found out that I was indeed SUPPOSED to file US tax returns despite being in the United Kingdom. I have been in the UK since July 2006 and I have no idea where to start. Out of the ~40 months I have lived in the UK, I have only worked for the following time periods:

October-November 2006, August 2007-March 2008, and September 2008 - June 2009. I have never filed a tax return, as I was only 18 when I moved over here and nobody (not even my immigration lawyer) told me I would need to continue filing tax returns. I do not know where to start on filing my tax returns, can anyone offer me advice or help?

It's no big deal, especially if you owe no taxes. Call the IRS, and explain your situation - they'll walk you through how you should file - then file right away! ((I didn't file for 3 years, here in the U.S., I filed this last year for the past 3 years and received $12k in refunds))

[Anh map 2,098]

Ok, so just yesterday I found out that I was indeed SUPPOSED to file US tax returns despite being in the United Kingdom. I have been in the UK since July 2006 and I have no idea where to start. Out of the ~40 months I have lived in the UK, I have only worked for the following time periods:

October-November 2006, August 2007-March 2008, and September 2008 - June 2009. I have never filed a tax return, as I was only 18 when I moved over here and nobody (not even my immigration lawyer) told me I would need to continue filing tax returns. I do not know where to start on filing my tax returns, can anyone offer me advice or help?

There are some IRS services available at the London embassy if you are still in the UK. See the embassy website for more info.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

There are some IRS services available at the London embassy if you are still in the UK. See the embassy website for more info.

I found this out right after they shut for the day

Will phone them tomorrow, thank you both very much for the advice!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

The London IRS guys are great -- really helpful and kind. They see people like you every day. I hadn't filed in the 12 years I was living in the UK, and they just had me file three years' worth. Since I was living in London at the time, I was able to file directly at the IRS office and have photocopies stamped on the day for use in our DCF case. It's a piece of cake.

[Darnell 8,478]

you can get all the forms you need on the IRS website - so filling them out is easy.

if you are filing joint returns, with yer husband in the UK, and he doesn't have a ssn - get a form w-7 as well, have his bio page of his passport copied then have that copied certified / notarized at the US Embassy, then mail in the 1040 with W-7, 'for that tax year' to the special IRS address in Austin TX for W-7 submissions.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

It's also possible (and easier) to file married filing separately -- instead of applying for an ITIN by way of a W-7, in the space for your UKC spouse's SSN on the 1040 form you can write "NRA" (for non-resident alien). Unless you have been making over the exempted yearly amount of foreign income (what's it now, $82k?) availing yourself of the benefits of a joint return is not really necessary. Much less hassle to file separately this way, and London don't give a fig if you file jointly or separately for the purposes of DCF. This is what I was told to do by the London IRS and it was perfectly fine. In addition, filing separately had no effect on the success of removing conditions -- though once we were over here in the US (and he had his SSN) we started filing jointly.

You will need at the very least the 1040 and the 2555 (usually the 2555-EZ) forms.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

It's also possible (and easier) to file married filing separately -- instead of applying for an ITIN by way of a W-7, in the space for your UKC spouse's SSN on the 1040 form you can write "NRA" (for non-resident alien). Unless you have been making over the exempted yearly amount of foreign income (what's it now, $82k?) availing yourself of the benefits of a joint return is not really necessary. Much less hassle to file separately this way, and London don't give a fig if you file jointly or separately for the purposes of DCF. This is what I was told to do by the London IRS and it was perfectly fine. In addition, filing separately had no effect on the success of removing conditions -- though once we were over here in the US (and he had his SSN) we started filing jointly.

You will need at the very least the 1040 and the 2555 (usually the 2555-EZ) forms.

Thank you! I was looking everywhere for that very piece of information! I had no idea about whether I was filing separately, in which case...what did I put for my hubby etc lol

Thank you thank you thankyou!!!

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

No problem! If you are in the London area, feel free to drop in and see the IRS guys in person on Tuesdays-Thursdays. They can give you forms and talk you through any questions -- and (as I stated above) filing in person means you don't have to wait several weeks for a transcript to be available for use with your I-864. Just bring your US passport and tell the guard you are there to see the IRS -- you'll get to jump the visa queue snaking around the square. Also useful for scopin' out the place for the day of the interview.

[CheeseQuavers 0]

No problem! If you are in the London area, feel free to drop in and see the IRS guys in person on Tuesdays-Thursdays. They can give you forms and talk you through any questions -- and (as I stated above) filing in person means you don't have to wait several weeks for a transcript to be available for use with your I-864. Just bring your US passport and tell the guard you are there to see the IRS -- you'll get to jump the visa queue snaking around the square. Also useful for scopin' out the place for the day of the interview.

As much as I would love to scope out the building, DH and I are located just south of Manchester in North Wales, so its a good 4 hour drive for us! (6 hours if you're me..)

I'm having trouble getting through to the IRS via phone, do you happen to know where I can download previous year's forms?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Here's the forms page for 2008: 2008 forms

And 2007: 2007 forms

2009 stuff is here: 2009 forms You'll need to search the database for the correct forms for 2009 (unlike for 2007 and 2008). If you don't have particularly complicated financial lives, you'll probably need only the 1040 and the 2555-EZ. Make sure to download all the instructions as well! I did three years of back taxes over Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2007 -- took probably 8 hours all told. It's more mind-numbing than difficult. What is REALLY irritating is that (of course) the US and UK tax years are different, so working out what I made in calendar year 2004-06 involved some arithmetic instead of just pulling a number off a P11. Grrrrr.

Good luck and come back with more questions!

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Here's the forms page for 2008: 2008 forms

And 2007: 2007 forms

2009 stuff is here: 2009 forms You'll need to search the database for the correct forms for 2009 (unlike for 2007 and 2008). If you don't have particularly complicated financial lives, you'll probably need only the 1040 and the 2555-EZ. Make sure to download all the instructions as well! I did three years of back taxes over Easter Bank Holiday weekend in 2007 -- took probably 8 hours all told. It's more mind-numbing than difficult. What is REALLY irritating is that (of course) the US and UK tax years are different, so working out what I made in calendar year 2004-06 involved some arithmetic instead of just pulling a number off a P11. Grrrrr.

Good luck and come back with more questions!

Ah! You are brilliant! My parents are sending me some tax software to help me out. I don't actually think I've made enough except during 2007-2009 to be required to file...but we are going to call the IRS London again on Monday, I've been having millions of issues getting through

[CheeseQuavers 0]

Ah! You are brilliant! My parents are sending me some tax software to help me out. I don't actually think I've made enough except during 2007-2009 to be required to file...but we are going to call the IRS London again on Monday, I've been having millions of issues getting through

Ok, but I do have another question; when filing for previous years, should I use my current address or should I complete the forms as though I'm in 2008 filing my 07 tax returns? I've had three addresses in the UK, though I've already filed my 2006 tax return from the USA when I was 17. I lived in my first UK address from July 06 - March 07. I lived in my second address from March 07 to January 09. I have lived in my current home since Jan 09.

So for instance, for the tax year 2007, would I put down address number 2, as that was where I was living at the time, or should I put my current address on them?

This is so confusing Why do they have to make it so difficult?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

What I did was put the address for wherever I was living on 31 December of the year in question. So for 2004 taxes, I put I was living in Greenwich (I also had to put down my ex-husband's name in the spousal area since he had yet to drop the bomb on me that he wanted a divorce -- but that's another story altogether!). On 31 December 2005, I was living near Marble Arch in my bachelorette flat, so that's what went down on the 1040. As of 31 December 2006, I was up near Archway with my husband, so I put that down.

You need to submit 2007-09 taxes, so for each year, put down the corresponding address where you were living on 31 December of that year. Confusing, yes! And yes, for 2007 and 2008 you would put down address 2, and your current address for 2009.

You know, when I was 16 I told my parents I wanted to be a tax attorney. (God knows why.) Maybe I did indeed miss my true calling!

[CheeseQuavers 0]

What I did was put the address for wherever I was living on 31 December of the year in question. So for 2004 taxes, I put I was living in Greenwich (I also had to put down my ex-husband's name in the spousal area since he had yet to drop the bomb on me that he wanted a divorce -- but that's another story altogether!). On 31 December 2005, I was living near Marble Arch in my bachelorette flat, so that's what went down on the 1040. As of 31 December 2006, I was up near Archway with my husband, so I put that down.

You need to submit 2007-09 taxes, so for each year, put down the corresponding address where you were living on 31 December of that year. Confusing, yes! And yes, for 2007 and 2008 you would put down address 2, and your current address for 2009.

You know, when I was 16 I told my parents I wanted to be a tax attorney. (God knows why.) Maybe I did indeed miss my true calling!

Hah, maybe you did! I think I'd be consistently suicidal if I tried to be a tax advisor!! I started doing this..hyperventilate laugh-cry when I first opened a 1040 to try and do them myself a few days ago! XD

You have been like the most helpful, awesome person ever! <3 Thank you soooo much!