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Paying late taxes while living abroad

 

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Subject Author Date
Paying late taxes while living abroad coolali_5 01-30-2008
Posted by coolali_5 on January 30, 2008, 12:10 pm
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Dear All,
I am a Green Card holder living outside US for the past two years and
half. Thanks to this newsgroup I just came to realize that I needed to
file taxes during this time period (something that I have failed to
do, even though I do not owe anything back to IRS). Also during my
first year I worked part-time in US but did not file for that either
(even though I would have gotten a refund).
I was wondering how should I go about filing my taxes late? Is there
any way to do this online? Do I need any special forms?
I will very greatly appreciate any help.
R Coolali,

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Posted by Phil Marti on January 30, 2008, 12:28 pm
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> I am a Green Card holder living outside US for the past two years and
> half. Thanks to this newsgroup I just came to realize that I needed to
> file taxes during this time period (something that I have failed to
> do, even though I do not owe anything back to IRS). Also during my
> first year I worked part-time in US but did not file for that either
> (even though I would have gotten a refund).
> I was wondering how should I go about filing my taxes late? Is there
> any way to do this online? Do I need any special forms?

You will need the forms for the years in question. You can get them at
www.irs.gov.

You cannot do this online. You'll have to file paper returns.

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by removeps-groups@yahoo.com on January 31, 2008, 1:02 am
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On Jan 30, 9:10 am, coolal...@yahoo.com wrote:

> I am a Green Card holder living outside US for the past two years and
> half. Thanks to this newsgroup I just came to realize that I needed to
> filetaxesduring this time period (something that I have failed to
> do, even though I do not owe anything back to IRS).  Also during my
> first year I worked part-time in US but did not file for that either
> (even though I would have gotten a refund).
> I  was wondering how should I go about filing mytaxeslate? Is there
> any way to do this online? Do I need any special forms?
> I will very greatly appreciate any help.

This could be tricky. If you have a green card but are outside the US
for more than a year, you may lose your permanent resident status.
Take a look at <http://www.immihelp.com/greencard/retain-
greencard.html> in the section "Extended Stay Outside the US" for
generic information. If outside the US for more than a year but less
than two years, you should get a re-entry permit. I don't know what
happens if you're outside the country for more than two years, as in
your case. Of course, it's not set in stone that you will lose your
green card, but trying to get back to the country could be difficult,
and could involve explaining why you didn't get that permit, proving
your case to a judge, attorney fees, lost time and money. Paying
taxes, even if late, probably suggests that you did not intend to lose
your permanent residency status. But I suggest you talk to an
immigration lawyer first, as why pay taxes if they don't recognize you
as a US resident.

And in answer to your question, you file 1040X (amended returns).
There may be a penalty for filing late though.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by L K Williams on January 31, 2008, 11:48 am
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On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:02:49 EST, "removeps-groups@yahoo.com"

Snip
>
>And in answer to your question, you file 1040X (amended returns).
>There may be a penalty for filing late though.

I disagree! How can you amend a return that was never filed? The
correct process is to file Form 1040 for each year, as if you were
filing on time. You should attach all Forms and Schedules that would
have been attached to a timely filed return.

Lanny K. Williams, CPA
Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

Posted by parrisbraeside@yahoo.ca on February 1, 2008, 7:54 am
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> On Thu, 31 Jan 2008 01:02:49 EST, "removeps-gro...@yahoo.com"
>
>
> Snip
>
>
>
> >And in answer to your question, you file 1040X (amended returns).
> >There may be a penalty for filing late though.
>
> I disagree! How can you amend a return that was never filed? The
> correct process is to file Form 1040 for each year, as if you were
> filing on time. You should attach all Forms and Schedules that would
> have been attached to a timely filed return.
>
> Lanny K. Williams, CPA
> Nawarat, Williams & Co., Ltd.
> Income Tax Services for Expatriate Americans

Lanny, this is an example of the advice you can get for free. A
professional knows that a 1040X does not cut it. But in the net,
anyone can say with conviction that it is the right form.

--
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>
<< The foregoing was not intended or written to be used, >>
<< nor can it used, for the purpose of avoiding penalties >>
<< that may be imposed upon the taxpayer. >>
<< >>
<< The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting posts >>
<< to this newsgroup as well as our anti-spamming policy >>
<< are at www.asktax.org. >>
<< Copyright (2007) - All rights reserved. >>
<< ------------------------------------------------------- >>

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