Some important US tax-related dates for US expats, with provisos:
As an American expat, we still have US tax obligations, both income tax and what’s called FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting) — both of these have approaching deadlines. Of course there are lots of if’s, and’s and but’s, but generally here’s what you need to know (see here for more details). FBAR filing is required of ALL overseas Americans whose total foreign bank and investment accounts ever had an aggregate value of $10,000 or more at any time during the previous year (2019). 1040 filing is required generally under the same conditions as if you were living in the US.
But most of us do get a bit of extra time for filing due to living overseas. You can file the FBAR yourself directly here for free — it’s a simple form. Note that some firms will file an FBAR for you, but charge you a fee — you generally should NOT need such.
Anyhow here are the relevant dates this year:
- April 15, 2020: Nominally both your 1040 and your FBAR are due then, but as an expat most likely you qualify for automatic extensions on both: June 15, 2020 for the 1040 and Oct 15, 2020 for the FBAR. Neither extension needs to be requested — they’re automatic.
- June 15, 2020: Your 1040 is due, unless you request a 4-month extension with Form 4868, or by doing so using the EFTPS website
- Oct 15, 2020: Final deadline for both your 1040 and FBAR. No extensions possible.
Also those with appreciable, reportable financial assets (at least over $200,000 — see here for details) here may also have FATCA filing obligations. That is also due April 15, 2020. You should consult with a reputable firm for further information or see here.
Sorry but we can’t help you further with filing these or more detailed questions. If you need help with any of this, consult with a reputable firm specializing in expat taxes, e.g. Taxes for Expats,