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Posts: 548

Shifu

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Q: How do you file your tax returns to America from China?

Is there an electronic format we can use to file taxes with the IRS? Turbo Tax does not have the capability to do it online. Is there a link with the IRS to do this electronically? Or, do we have to print a copy of the forms and mail them to the IRS?

9 years 7 weeks ago in  Money & Banking - China

 
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the irs will not give you a problem for the address, i have filed taxes with a post office box, i filed from africa in the 80's by mail with made up addresses, audits dont happen much anymore because they have been skinned on the budget and cant even hire enough workers to enforce the new insurance laws. if your paid in cash in china, they dont even have a way to know your real salary, even though the amount does not matter under 94000. the 94000 changes with inflation each year so the number is not exact.

if you owe nothing filing late has no penalty, so just file them all when you get back, i filed taxes for a client once who had not filed for 18 years, took me 4 days and he had overpayed every year, so i asked him why he did not file and he said child support to his xwife would take his refund and send to her, he was not going to give her a dime, but he bought the kids clothes, cars, college education etc, so why are you filing now then, well the bitch died yesterday.

i fell in the floor laughing and had to have my secretary pick me up off the floor.

AladinSane:

Underrated post.

9 years 4 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Posts: 5732

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if your in beijing you can get copies and file at the embassy.

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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1098

Shifu

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I have used my parents' accountant to file taxes. Because you live abroad you automatically get an extension (I think it's about 3 months) and you can apply for an additional extension beyond that. So if you will be in the states at all during the spring/ summer you can just take care of it there. One year I was not in the states during the summer so I just sent the accountant in America my info. and scanned my signature and emailed it to her. She handled the papers. There are also numerous CPA's in China who can help you with American returns. If you want to file yourself I'm not really sure sorry. 

wagon:

2 month extension.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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I haven't filed with the IRS since living in China and that has me very worried. Although low-income bracket, I still need to file. But where are my Chinese tax statements? I never received any at the schools I've worked in. Yes, taxes were "deducted" and probably ended up in the boss's pocket. Who knows? How am I going to prove the ample savings I have in my Chinese bank were acquired legitimately without those tax statements? And how to justify the monies to the iRS when transferring to my home bank in the States? Deep breath time.

 

I contacted an American immigration lawyer friend in Beijing who suggested I work this mess out with H&R Block, the tax prep people. They apparently deal with cases like mine all the time with an office in China. Fingers crossed. And good luck to you.

dongbeiren:

If you make less than about 95,000 USD per year you don't owe any income tax (if you are out of the US for 330 days or more) but you still have to file technically. Honestly, the IRS will probably not bother you if you are teaching English abroad for a few years and not filing. Those are not the expats that they're targeting.  If you have income from other sources (dividends, capital gains, rental property) that is not included in the exemption so filing is even more important then. If I didn't have investment income I'm not sure I'd even bother filing since I don't make enough in China to owe income taxes. 

9 years 6 weeks ago
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dongbeiren:

And you can actually go to your local Chinese tax office, give them your passport and see what taxes you have paid. If you believe your employer has been deducting taxes illegally, I would suggest doing this. Or just mention this to your employer and watch him shit his pants. 

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 548

Shifu

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I am in a third teired city, far from an embassy. I know what forms I need and how to file. I am just looking for an electronic way to file....if there is one.

Englteachted:

Did you ever file taxes when you were in America? Were you ever in America?

9 years 6 weeks ago
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nashboroguy:

Of course I have lived in America and filed when I was in America. Stupid question.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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ambivalentmace:

you can file electronically on a vpn, the computer thinks your filing from america, have done this one year with no trouble.

 

if you have nothing but teaching income, you can file online with the irs site, but they are belly aching about their budget cuts for screwing with conservative non profits and congress getting payback, so you return will take longer because somebody cant read the paper on the thrown all day and must actually do some work, oh the indignity and horror.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

amb: everyone who has lived here knows the drill this guy is full of it. You can simply print out the form and mail it in. Hell this guy can't even use the proper terms 'file directly with the IRS' 

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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to Canada .. I file on the internet, but I have found some things (some deductions) that are only good if you actually live in Canada. (income sharing for example). 

so I am working on a way to file for both of us, from China, to Canada ....... holy shit, now I am in trouble......  oh well, not the first time.....it isn't "fraud", it is just pointing out discrepancies that should not exist. a failure in the rules. I have found an approved tax remittance outfit that accepts all my submissions. no lies.  ..  most/many don't because of where I live. there is only about a half a dozen outfits OK'd to do Canada tax stuff.

 

so not about America..  maybe a Canadian can use this info  ...maybe?

BHGAL:

I just gor a re assessment from Canada..... $418 more I owe them...from last year.... in their opinion ....  fuck that, come and get your $418.

there is no man I hate worse than the Tax Man .... not a shitty musician, lousy comedian, bad actor, nobody is worse than an asshole tax man.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 548

Shifu

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OK dumbass Englteachted, please inform me of an online program or company that will allow me to complete and file my IRS taxes online. My question was regarding online programs or companies. like Turbo Tax, that allows me to directly file with the IRS. Turbo Tax does not give expats this option. And, I have yet to find one that does. Of course I know I can print these forms and do it in the mail. But, I was looking for a program that will help me filling out these forms and help me find all my deductions like Turbo Tax. So, enlighten us on these wonderful programs and online companies that will do an expat's IRS filing.

ambivalentmace:

use a vpn and an american address for filing. turbo tax will never know the difference, since you did not get a 1099 or a w2, they already know you have no income in america.

 

if you get stuck, just sign a 1040, write a note to the irs and tell them your in china and what you made last year, and they will fill the form out for you. it will take a long time to get it done though. make sure you send it with signature required or they will lose it the paperwork to avoid doing the work. i was a CPA in america before the corporate firms started contracting the work on the internet to India for salaries of 10k a year, sort of ruined the profession, and of course the scandals the wiped out the big 8 to the tiny three i think it is now.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

Turbotax , Taxact, HR fucking block how can you not know HRblock? Jackson Hewit. You might even be able to file directly with the IRS. no vpn needed. 

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

Did you change your question?

9 years 6 weeks ago
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nashboroguy:

OK moron, you apparently do not file taxes electronically from China. If you did, you would know the answer. Instead, you just want to be a prick about it. The answers you are providing DO NOT offer online programs to file overseas IRS taxes. At least Turbo Tax does not. This is why I posted the question. I am looking for such an option. I am not looking to spend lots of money to an accountant to file some forms to the IRS to show that I do not make enough money to pay taxes in the first place. I just need to satisfy the IRS requirement of showing that I filed with them. I do not owe taxes, or get a fefund. But, the IRS wants some proof of this. So, I do not want to pay some accountant or tax prep people tons of money for a stupid process the IRS requires. And, NO, I did not change the question.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

All sites I've listed I have used except Hewitt. All offer online filing. Your problem seems to be you are just too clueless.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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nashboroguy:

You have used them to file your taxes from China, without using an American address to falsify your IRS document? I was audited by the IRS before. It is not a fun process to go through. And, I do not want to go through it again. So, I am looking for a legal way to file. The sites you mentioned seem to allow online filing, ONLY if you are living in the USA. The online programs are not equipped to handle the requirements of a foreigner living and working overseas. But, thanks for playing.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

Now I know you are a troll. Audits have to  do with money not addresses. And  you are free to use a friend, relative or PO box  as  your address. This confirms you are a troll . Try again next time.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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nashboroguy:

I sure hope you are not a teacher. You are clueless about anything. Anyone can be audited for no reason. They can be random...as was in my case. They do not just audit the wealthy people in America. Get a clue, just for once.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 1420

Shifu

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When we did it prior to moving back home we mailed in like three years of returns. I couldn't find a way to efile.

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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Governor

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You can file online through turbo tax...that's how I've been doing it. You have to file a 2555 form to declare your overseas income but like someone said - if your under $100K/year (who isn't in China) you don't actually owe anything.

Not filing isn't a good idea because if you do decide to go back to the US 1 day you will have shitloads of paperwork to deal with.

Englteachted:

Haha, wrong. Under 100k you still must pay at the very least SSI, unemployment insurance.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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nashboroguy:

mraph33: Turbo Tax does not allow expats to file the taxes from overseas electronically. I know you can get around this process using Turbo Tax if you have an American address. But, the IRS would find this to be invalid if you are audited. I tried using Turbo Tax last year for my overseas filing. It would accept it. Nor did they have the proper forms required on their system. I researched online and contacted a Turbo Tax rep by email. The rep and the info I found online confirmed this. Turbo Tax can only be used if you reside in the USA.

9 years 6 weeks ago
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Englteachted:

How are you able to get a visa without an address in the states? 

9 years 6 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
Posts: 548

Shifu

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It seems that the only option for expats to legally file their taxes with the IRS is through an emabassy tax prep service, an accounting company, or by mail. Alll three are options that are cumbersome for myself living out in rural China. But, being a good American infidel, I will do my part to support the IRS.

For al those who honestly tried to answer this question for me and assist me, thank you.

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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Emperor

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the irs will not give you a problem for the address, i have filed taxes with a post office box, i filed from africa in the 80's by mail with made up addresses, audits dont happen much anymore because they have been skinned on the budget and cant even hire enough workers to enforce the new insurance laws. if your paid in cash in china, they dont even have a way to know your real salary, even though the amount does not matter under 94000. the 94000 changes with inflation each year so the number is not exact.

if you owe nothing filing late has no penalty, so just file them all when you get back, i filed taxes for a client once who had not filed for 18 years, took me 4 days and he had overpayed every year, so i asked him why he did not file and he said child support to his xwife would take his refund and send to her, he was not going to give her a dime, but he bought the kids clothes, cars, college education etc, so why are you filing now then, well the bitch died yesterday.

i fell in the floor laughing and had to have my secretary pick me up off the floor.

AladinSane:

Underrated post.

9 years 4 weeks ago
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9 years 6 weeks ago
 
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Shifu

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u dont make enough to file go back to sleep

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9 years 5 weeks ago
 
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