Comments | brits_americans: Yeah I'm the Taxman, and you're working for no one but me.

ashfae in brits_americans

Yeah I'm the Taxman, and you're working for no one but me.

Oct 15, 2013 15:42

Hello Brits & Americans. I'm a US expat and I've been in Scotland for the past decade. I was under the impression that because there was tax reciprocity (didn't realize it only went one-way; argh, America) and because I earn jack squat I'm well under the threshhold where you need to pay anything. But I forgot that not needing to pay anything isn't ( Read more... )

taxes

Comments 11

jillybeano October 15 2013, 15:24:28 UTC

Not helpful, but how did you get caught for the 10 years? I've been outside the US since 2003 and lived in various counties....I didn't file either :( same reasons a you!

ashfae October 16 2013, 08:10:08 UTC

I haven't gotten caught, my dad realized "Oh shit, we were wrong, you do have to file!" (we honestly thought I didn't!) and I'm trying to get it fixed.

...a small part of me is tempted to just keep not being caught, since they haven't noticed and I'm sure I owe nothing but late fines, I admit...*sigh* But then it'd probably bite me at the worst possible time, so better to fix it now.

stlscape October 15 2013, 15:46:31 UTC

If it's American taxes, here's a starting point: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Contact-My-Local-Office-Internationally . (If you're looking for the main website, make sure you use .GOV and not .COM.)

ashfae October 16 2013, 08:17:46 UTC

Oh, that looks like a great resource! Thanks so much!!

goose_entity October 15 2013, 16:22:08 UTC

AFAIK you only need to file 3 years, which you can do electronically, and will be zero returns anyway - this is what my wife did when we applied for my green card in 2005.

(The comment has been removed)

ashfae October 16 2013, 08:19:03 UTC

That looks like a great resource too, thank you! And yeah, of that I have no doubt. *sheepish grin*

thekumquat October 16 2013, 08:42:32 UTC

Re getting caught; do you intend to reside in the US again? My mother hasn't filed in 40 years except for the one required to get enough contributions to get her US state pension - was told perhaps unofficially not to bother with the others and I shouldn't bother either (I've never lived in the US).

ashfae October 16 2013, 14:06:19 UTC

It's very very unlikely. I do go back to visit though, especially now that I have a daughter (who may want US citizenship someday; who knows?), so it feels like a time bomb if I just leave them undone. I'd hate to get arrested someday while visiting my parents.

licon October 27 2014, 01:56:06 UTC

That's irrelevant. They've recently started a new campaign intended to catch the people who should have filed but haven't. I don't expect serious consequences for people who really don't owe any tax, but there's the possibility of nasty paperwork and possibly penalties if they *do* catch up with you. Just go ahead and file, very apologetically. It'll take you an hour or two of tile, and there's a tax person you can call at the British Embassy if you need help. (I also found the IRS to be very helpful via email.)