ldyparadox99 said:

Yup. Even though you didn't earn any US based income or use any US based resources we're still required to report to Uncle Sam so he can get his cut too. The good news is, there is an exclusion for those who have worked in another country and owe taxes there (to avoid double taxation). I'm not sure what it was for 2012...probably around $90k or so. The moment you make a cent over the exclusion though you're liable for US taxes. You also have to report your bank accounts, interest, worldwide income, etc just like you were in the US as well. Since I don't have anything special going on, I do my taxes myself. I do a 1040 (since I'm married and filing single) and my 2555 which is the exclusion and residence test. Then I just mail it in with $0 owed.

 

Oh, and US citizens overseas get an automatic extension on taxes so they're not due in until sometime in june.

ldyparadox99, are you checking the box and filing as "single" even though you are married?  Can you please explain how you can do that?

christianbarth said:

philly_girl said:

As i have not lived/resided in the USA since that time and have not earned any money there i am not obligated to file taxes or pay any taxes for any year where i did not make over $600 in the USA.

 

The time table to paying any owed taxes only starts ticking once you have filed your return this I know is completely true and factual so no worries. 

 

Sorry but none of this information is correct.  I advise USA taxpayers everywhere to follow the rules according to the IRS:

 

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p54/ch01.html#en_US_2011_publink100047318

 

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and for paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad.
 

Your income, filing status, and age generally determine whether you must file an income tax return. Generally, you must file a return for 2011 if your gross income from worldwide sources is at least the amount shown for your filing status in the following table.

Filing Status*   Amount Single $9,500 65 or older $10,950 Head of household $12,200 65 or older $13,650 Qualifying widow(er) $15,300 65 or older $16,450 Married filing jointly $19,000 Not living with spouse at end of year $3,700 One spouse 65 or older $20,150 Both spouses 65 or older $21,300 Married filing separately

 

When To File and Pay

If you file on a calendar year basis, the due date for filing your return is April 15 of the following year. If you file on a fiscal year basis (a year ending on the last day of any month except December), the due date is 3 months and 15 days after the close of your fiscal year. In general, the tax shown on your return should be paid by the due date of the return, without regard to any extension of time for filing the return.

 

Christian Barth, Attorney

www.expatlaw.nl

 

 

Yes, as both people have said, there's no doubt that I have to file, but as others have also said, I most likely don't owe any backtaxes, except for some possible fines for filing late...which I heard is waivered for first time offense.  (I have to reread this bit again because it was confusing, lol.  But it's something like $187 per year or equivalent to what you owe, whichever is lower)  Just have to do the "formalities" and get filing and continue to do so every year.

I'm not sure, but I think what phillygirl said isn't wrong, she doesn't have to file since she's not making a lot (in America).  But, what Christian is saying is that you DO have to file if you are making over a certain amount, no matter where you are in the world.

Also, if you are married, you have to file jointly the first year but can do joint or separate afterwards.  This is the same even if your spouse is a non-US resident!  (Which I find stupid...but I guess his money is my money and vice versa, and the US wants to stick their hands in it too, haha.)

Really interesting and funny read.

I love America too, and I miss some things about it.  But I'm so glad that I've been able to to experience more than America and see "outside the box".

Franklin said:

emoima said:

 I wanted to correct something that poptart said.

 

Your daughter is only an American citizen by birth if you are -not- married to the father. If you are married to the father, then your baby automatically gets a Dutch citizenship. 

Now where in the world did you get this bit of misinformation? The daughter is an American citizen by birthright, with or without paperwork. And assuming the father admits parenthood (erkenning), she also has Dutch citizenship as well. http://tinyurl.com/63oeg

 

Please, please don't misinform people this way.   

Sorry, I didn't mean to misinform.  I did my research, but apparently I didn't do my research fully.  I looked it up some more (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law#Through_birth_abroad_to_United_States_citizens) and found what you were saying.  In my previous statements, I said those things because from the previous 2 links that I posted, I misinterpreted that the parents would have to -apply- for American citizenship for the baby, but in actuality, it's -reporting- citizenship with a list of criterias to meet and money to pay (lol).

Sorry all for the misinfo; I didn't mean to.  But I'm glad there's people like Franklin that knows their stuff to correct me because now I know more too. :)

Thanks a lot for the tip(s) mvn and hnadams! I will contact you, hnadams, when I start trying to fill in my taxes and run into trouble, hnadams.

I hate captcha too...but it's necessary, I guess.