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  1. #1

    Default Failure to File U.S. Tax Returns While Living Abroad

    Hi,

    I am a US citizen by birth but I always lived in Spain and I only used my Spanish passport. I never new anything about US taxes until a couple weeks ago when my bank in Asia (from where I just returned after working for 2 years), sent me an email asking me to sign a FATCA form and a W9 form. I have never had more than 16.000 dollars so I know it wonīt affect FATCA, but I have just discovered it's obligatory to declare taxes to the US no matter where you live and I have never filled an FBAR or any other form. Now, I donīt know if they will fine me for not filling FBAR, but if I donīt sign, they might fine me for not allowing FATCA to explore my accounts? I have been searching for legal advice but nobody seems to know about it. I also only have 1 week to send the required documents. I would deeply appreciate some advice.

    Thank you.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    16,474

    Default Re: Failure to File U.S. Tax Returns While Living Abroad

    Quote Quoting Orangspanyol
    View Post
    Hi,

    I am a US citizen by birth but I always lived in Spain and I only used my Spanish passport. I never new anything about US taxes until a couple weeks ago when my bank in Asia (from where I just returned after working for 2 years), sent me an email asking me to sign a FATCA form and a W9 form. I have never had more than 16.000 dollars so I know it wonīt affect FATCA, but I have just discovered it's obligatory to declare taxes to the US no matter where you live and I have never filled an FBAR or any other form. Now, I donīt know if they will fine me for not filling FBAR, but if I donīt sign, they might fine me for not allowing FATCA to explore my accounts? I have been searching for legal advice but nobody seems to know about it. I also only have 1 week to send the required documents. I would deeply appreciate some advice.

    Thank you.
    How did your bank know that you are a US citizen by birth if you have never lived in the US and only used a Spanish passport?

  3. #3

    Default Re: Failure to File U.S. Tax Returns While Living Abroad

    I was born in the US. Itīs part of the obligatory information banks ask for when opening an account.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Posts
    16,474

    Default Re: Failure to File U.S. Tax Returns While Living Abroad

    Quote Quoting Orangspanyol
    View Post
    I was born in the US. Itīs part of the obligatory information banks ask for when opening an account.
    You could renounce your US citizenship in order to avoid this problem in the future.

    Otherwise yes, you should be filing a US tax return annually (taking the foreign income exclusion and credits for foreign tax paid) as well as maybe having to file an FBAR and other forms. If you google "US income tax returns for expats" you can find tax professions who provide services for people in your situation. Do you have a Social Security Number? If not, you will need to obtain one. Go to ssa.gov for information on that.

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