Korean Job Discussion Forums

[C00LAS1CE]

I'll start with some background info:

I arrived in Korea on 5/25/10, so as of today I've been here 321 days, which is 9 days short of the 330 days required to be eligible to fill out the 2555-EZ form. As most of you are aware, taxes are due in 4 days, on the 15th. I did not have a job anywhere but my current employer (hagwon) for the year 2010. Single, no property, no dependents, etc. I lost some money in stocks and have gained interest on a US savings account so I will have to report those. I got audited last year for not reporting some stock dividends so I am trying to avoid that this time around.

Some starting questions, I'm sure there wil be more...

1) Do I still need to fill out a 1040EZ since I didn't have a job in the US last year?

2) Since I don't meet the "Bona Fide Residence Test" or the "Physical Presence Test" listed on the 2555-EZ, what am I supposed to do? File an extension or nothing at all?

3) How do I go about doing this with state taxes, specifically California?

4) Is there a specific way you're supposed to do the currency conversion? Are most people just dividing how much they earned by 1200 to get a rough estimate?

[peacemaker]

If you live abroad, your tax deadline is automatically extended until June 15th. So you will meet the residence test by then.

[C00LAS1CE]

[Milwaukiedave]

1) Call the IRS directly on this one. I believe you still have to file. One year I didn't meet the BFR or the PPT test and I was in Korea most of the year but gone for 4 months (I went home). Somehow they told me what to do to make it work (though I can't remember exactly).

2) I used 1100 for mine. It really doesn't matter unless you are making close to the maximum amount.

3) I've never filed state taxes (I'm from Oregon though).