Tax Backfiling, Foreign Income, Organization [split topic]

[ecody1 0]

I have been living in Japan since 2012.

I am going to file for the FEIE(2555ez) to cover my time here in Japan.

How do I cover all my time in Japan?meaning, how do I backfile the 2555ez for 2012?

What's the most organized and cheapest way to mail these documents?

Should I send them in with the I-864 and other financial documents?

Also,If I file the 2555ez for 2012-present, then I don't need to file any other federal taxes right?

I'm very confused about the terms "filing" and "paying" taxes, are they the same thing?

I have a problem with filing federal taxes.

I've started using turbotax but since I'm filing for the FEIE I can't use the free version.

In my situation, I usually don't pay taxes but now it's going to cost 35$ for each year of turbotax I'm using.

I really have a gut feeling that I'm doing and paying too much.

Can somebody break things down to me simply and recommend a strategy for completing everything as economically and efficiently as possible. I'm going crazy,

Edited October 9, 2014 by ecody1

[TBoneTX 45,324]

*** Topic split from unrelated thread. ***

[TBoneTX 45,324]

*** Topic moved from CR-1 Process forum to the Tax & Finances forum. ***

[shiroiuso 3]

I think you probably are doing and paying too much!

With a Foreign Income Exclusion, you probably don't have to pay any taxes, but you must file a 1040 anyway.

You will need to file a 2555ez and a 1040 for each of the years you missed. You can find the old forms from previous years here: http://apps.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/priorFormPublication.html

It's very easy to find information about how to file your taxes from Japan with the FIE on Google. You shouldn't need any program to do it, especially if you don't have any other income, investments, etc to report. Virtually every line will be $0.00; no need for a program to add together a bunch of $0.00s, right?

The 2555ez and 1040 must be filed together, along with a copy of your Statement of Income (gensen choshu hyo) from your job in Japan. If you've lost it, there's yet another form that you can include so that you can use your best estimate to fill out the 2555ez (just Google "missing a W-2").

After you've mailed all these forms to the IRS, you must wait for the IRC to process them. Then you can request tax return transcripts to use with your I-864 here: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Get-Transcript

You can't use the actual 2555 and 1040 with your I-864. You must file those forms with the IRS and then request the transcripts.

Good luck! I filed 3 years of backtaxes myself. It was time consuming, but very easy. It cost only the money I paid at the post office to mail in the forms.

Edited October 12, 2014 by shiroiuso