Job Discussion Forums

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

Hey everyone! I looked around and couldn't find any info on the forum, so I decided to start a new thread. This is for U.S. citizens: for those of you living in Japan who haven't been back to America in several years (I haven't lived there since 2010) do you still file taxes every year? I keep hearing conflicting reports. Some say you don't and others say you do. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

teacher4life · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 121

Dissolution · Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 9:41 am Post subject:

I file every year, even if just to say that I have no income (here on a dependent visa). Better safe than sorry.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

Don`t file if you don`t intend to ever live in the US.
Yes, it is a pain but I do intend to return.

I pay Japanese taxes and wonder why the US government is like this.
There is also the FBAR form if you have more than 10,000 in a foreign bank account.

My mother got audited by the IRS, so that is why I tend to file every year.

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

OK, thanks for the input. I'll make sure I file then.

Inflames · Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 486

It's a bit of a pain the first time you file but after that it gets a lot easier.

teacher4life · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 121

File. Thanks to the boys at Homeland Security, eventually you will not be able to apply for a new passport unless you can prove you have filed taxes in the most recent 3 years. They have Americans by the balls.

ejvande · Joined: 19 Apr 2013 Posts: 7

So we have to pay both American and Japanese taxes?

teacher4life · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 121

surendra · Joined: 09 Feb 2012 Posts: 82

For Japan, do we need the IRS Tax Residency Form? Form 6066 I think?

Apparently it was need in Korea. I don't know about here though.

mitsui · Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 1562 Location: Kawasaki

6066? What is that?
Why the difference with Korea?

charlesmarlow · Joined: 17 May 2013 Posts: 68

The facts please, only the facts! Wink

Refer to the following IRS document:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

PO1 · Joined: 24 May 2010 Posts: 136

So, just to update from my original post:

I filed my taxes. Today I got a letter from the IRS saying I owe them 2,600 dollars. Uh...what?

So maybe I just filed wrong and they were confused and thought I haven't been paying tax in Japan. I remember filing before and I didn't have to pay anything. I thought I only had to pay taxes if I made 90,000 dollars or the equivalent?

I'm hoping this is just mix up. It would be incredibly stupid for me to have to pay that much money in taxes for a country I don't even live in anymore.

charlesmarlow · Joined: 17 May 2013 Posts: 68

intrepid traveler · Joined: 06 Feb 2013 Posts: 48

There is a separate form that must be filed if you receive foreign income and wish to avoid taxes. You must declare yourself to be a bonafide resident of another country or meet the physical presence test of being in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 days, even if you made under 90K.