Every April is a reminder of the looming filing deadlines for getting your United States tax affairs in order. Whether you are looking to file a return early or thinking about filing an extension, there are some important dates that you want to keep handy so that you do not let an essential deadline slip by.
15 April – This is the regular deadline for filing tax returns and the date on which any tax liabilities are due. Expats, however, are automatically granted an extension from the standard filing deadline.
15 June – This is the typical filing deadline for expatriates. You are allowed an automatic extension to 15 June if, on the regular filing deadline (15 April), you are living outside of the US.
30 June – If you own foreign accounts, you are by now very familiar with the possible need to report those accounts on the ominous FBAR report.
30 June is the date when this form must be filed, and to top it off, there are absolutely no extensions available. For that reason, make sure you prioritize getting your bank account details in order early so you don’t have to scramble around in mid-June to get the information you need.
15 October – So you aren’t ready to file your tax return by 15 June? Not to worry, you are able to formally request an extension to 15 October to get your tax information in order. To file for this extension you simply need to complete and send in Form 4868 by the original due date of your return.
You can avoid additional penalties and interest by filing and paying tax on time. If you are an expat, just remember that interest on unpaid tax liabilities starts to accrue starting 16 April and penalties start on 16 June.
If looking to file an extension, you will want to make sure to include payment of any estimated tax amounts in order to minimize the accumulation of penalties and interest.
This article was provided by H&R Block Expat Tax Services, a company specializing in US tax returns for Americans abroad.
(Image credit: iStockphoto)
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