For US citizens residing in or dual nationals living in the UK, maintaining tax compliance with IRS requirements can be confusing. IRS law states that US citizens (even if they live abroad) must report their worldwide income and disclose certain financial assets. This checklist has been compiled to guide you through finding the IRS tax form you may need to fill out. The following descriptions, direct links, and tax form-filling tips are designed to let you satisfy your tax obligations and avoid IRS penalties.
Here is a list of essential IRS forms that U.S. taxpayers living abroad may need to complete for tax reporting purposes.
| Form Number | Form Name | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 1040 | U.S. Individual Income Tax Return | Main form used to report personal income, deductions, and credits. All U.S. citizens and resident aliens must file this form. | Form 1040 |
| Form 2555 | Foreign Earned Income | Used to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Housing Exclusion or Deduction. | Form 2555 |
| Form 1116 | Foreign Tax Credit | Used to claim credit for taxes paid to a foreign country. | Form 1116 |
| Form 8938 | Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets | Used to report specified foreign financial assets if the total value exceeds certain thresholds. | Form 8938 |
| FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) | Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts | Used to report a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account. Filed electronically through FinCEN. | FBAR |
| Form 8621 | Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund | Used to report income from passive foreign investment companies (PFICs). | Form 8621 |
| Form 5471 | Information Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Corporations | Required for U.S. persons who are officers, directors, or shareholders in certain foreign corporations. | Form 5471 |
| Form 3520 | Annual Return to Report Transactions with Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts | Used to report certain transactions with foreign trusts and the receipt of large gifts from foreign persons. | Form 3520 |
| Form 3520-A | Annual Information Return of Foreign Trust with a U.S. Owner | Used by foreign trusts with U.S. owners to report trust activities. | Form 3520-A |
| Form 8833 | Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or 7701(b) | Used to disclose treaty-based return positions and to take treaty benefits. | Form 8833 |
| Form 8865 | Return of U.S. Persons With Respect to Certain Foreign Partnerships | Required for U.S. persons involved with foreign partnerships. | Form 8865 |
| Form 8939 | Allocation of Increase in Basis for Property Acquired from a Decedent | Used to report basis increases for property acquired from a decedent who was a nonresident. | Form 8939 |
| Form W-8BEN | Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding and Reporting (Individuals) | Used by individuals to certify their foreign status for U.S. tax withholding purposes. | Form W-8BEN |
Knowing key tax dates helps you prepare for what you need to do.
Below does not constitute tax advice and each taxpayer should consult with their tax advisor.
HMRC Reporting Dates for the Next 18 Months
| Date | Description |
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IRS Key Tax Dates for the Next 18 Months
| Date | Description |
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Our expat work means for US / UK residents we are frequently a recommended IFA for US citizens in the UK
Lawrie Chandler, Financial and Wealth Expert for Americans in the UK