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Billy Chaka · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 77

I'm going to be arriving in Japan in early May and plan to stay one year. I'm wondering about taxes for next year. I'm going to have to meet with a tax attorney (for reasons I won't go into here), and I'd rather just wait until I come back to the U.S.A. in early May of next year to do so. However, as any American reading this knows, the tax deadline is April 15th. The last time I was in Japan, I seem to remember being able to file some form that extended the deadline for a few months since I was overseas. Am I remembering correctly?

Billy Chaka · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 77

OK, I found the following on the IRS' website. I assume the same thing will be true in a year:

Individuals Outside the United States
You are allowed an automatic 2-month extension (until June 15, 2004, if you use the calendar year) to file your 2003 return and pay any federal income tax due if:

You are a U.S. citizen or resident, and

On the due date of your return:

You are living outside of the United States and Puerto Rico, and your main place of business or post of duty is outside the United States and
Puerto Rico, or

You are in military or naval service on duty outside the United States and
Puerto Rico.

However, if you pay the tax due after the regular due date (generally, April 15), interest will be charged from that date until the date the tax is paid.

If I decide that I don't want to pay interest (the tax I'm going to have to pay is a rather substancial amount), does anyone know if there are any American tax attorneys in Tokyo?

Billy Chaka · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 77

OK, never mind...I've decided it's best for me to just wait until I get back and pay the interest. I guess I answered all of my own questions. Very Happy

buffy · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 57

Does anyone know what the offical yen/dollar rate for 2003? Time to file again....

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

113.873

from the IRS link at the American consulate website for Japan

buffy · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 57

thanks guest...

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

You're very welcome. It's always lovely to receive a note of thanks when I give a little info. You just brightened my day.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

Of course one of the benifits of being an American earing wages overseas is that you do not have to pay income taxes to the IRS if you earned less than $80,000.. just file a form 2555 with a 1040 by June 15.

With so many multi-national corporations in Japan now I am sure there are Tax Attorneys for Americans there... most likely in Tokyo and Osaka. Probably the American Emabasy can put you on to one.