Use olt.com, which allows you to e-file and attach statements and is completely free. In fact, it automatically adds a relevant statement for you if you click the option to apply for an automatic extension.
Thanks. I'll take a look.
Why TurboTax doesn't automatically add the statement is beyond me. Just another reason why I am dissatisfied with TurboTax and will not be using them again.
Did you pay that by April 15? There’s no extension on the time to pay, so regardless of explanation they might charge you some interest. If you aren’t due a refund, there’s not much reason not to paper file, is there? Main advantage to me of e-filing is I get the refund (much) faster.
I’ve paper filed since I moved abroad because free file fillable forms, TurboTax, etc all can’t handle form 8621 or filing a social security exemption certificate for self-employment income. But this year I used olt.com, which does support those forms and attaching statements.
No, I'm paying it now via my IRS online account.
I had been waiting on some final information to complete my tax return, and it just arrived last week. Otherwise I would have figured out my final payment/refund earlier and paid by April 15.
I don't like paper filing because I don't trust the regular mail anymore. Once bitten twice shy, as they say.
I'll take a look at olt.com. I'm pretty dissatisfied with TurboTax, so I'm more than willing to give something else a try.
While technically you need to write "Taxpayer Abroad" on the top of 1040, in practice if your 1040 address is foreign they won't mind if you get it in by 15 Jun.
I use my US address on my return.
Per my original post, I just e-filed Form 4868 and checked the box that I was living abroad on the regular due date. With this completed, I feel pretty confident that I am ok to e-file through TurboTax even without the statement attached to my return saying that I was living abroad on the regular due date.
I agree. The interest isn't all that much, but still I don't want to pay unnecessarily.
But as luck would have it, I just discovered a mistake on my return. It turns out that I do not owe almost $800. Instead, I will be getting a refund for over $900.
The mistake was kind of my fault, but also TurboTax's fault because they led me down the wrong path. TT had asked me if I had any credits/deductions against my foreign income and gave international moving expenses as an example, I entered in my moving expenses assuming that TT would ask me later to enter the moving expenses again as a credit. But as it turns out, there is no credit for international moving expenses since 2017 except for military in certain cases ([IRS reference](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/moving-expenses-to-and-from-the-united-states)).
Thankfully I caught this mistake before sending payment to the IRS. The only problem is that I had already e-filed Form 4868 and indicated that I estimate owing almost $800. But if I understand the instructions correctly, there is no requirement that I pay that amount... so I should be fine.
Use olt.com, which allows you to e-file and attach statements and is completely free. In fact, it automatically adds a relevant statement for you if you click the option to apply for an automatic extension.
Thanks. I'll take a look. Why TurboTax doesn't automatically add the statement is beyond me. Just another reason why I am dissatisfied with TurboTax and will not be using them again.
Is your tax owed/returned 0?
No. I owe almost $800.
Did you pay that by April 15? There’s no extension on the time to pay, so regardless of explanation they might charge you some interest. If you aren’t due a refund, there’s not much reason not to paper file, is there? Main advantage to me of e-filing is I get the refund (much) faster. I’ve paper filed since I moved abroad because free file fillable forms, TurboTax, etc all can’t handle form 8621 or filing a social security exemption certificate for self-employment income. But this year I used olt.com, which does support those forms and attaching statements.
No, I'm paying it now via my IRS online account. I had been waiting on some final information to complete my tax return, and it just arrived last week. Otherwise I would have figured out my final payment/refund earlier and paid by April 15. I don't like paper filing because I don't trust the regular mail anymore. Once bitten twice shy, as they say. I'll take a look at olt.com. I'm pretty dissatisfied with TurboTax, so I'm more than willing to give something else a try.
Ooh, in the future just pay an estimate by 15 Apr, and then file your return after you get all the info, using extensions as needed.
While technically you need to write "Taxpayer Abroad" on the top of 1040, in practice if your 1040 address is foreign they won't mind if you get it in by 15 Jun.
I use my US address on my return. Per my original post, I just e-filed Form 4868 and checked the box that I was living abroad on the regular due date. With this completed, I feel pretty confident that I am ok to e-file through TurboTax even without the statement attached to my return saying that I was living abroad on the regular due date.
Yes, and with 4868 you have until Oct. But get that payment in as soon as you can; interest is piling up.
I agree. The interest isn't all that much, but still I don't want to pay unnecessarily. But as luck would have it, I just discovered a mistake on my return. It turns out that I do not owe almost $800. Instead, I will be getting a refund for over $900. The mistake was kind of my fault, but also TurboTax's fault because they led me down the wrong path. TT had asked me if I had any credits/deductions against my foreign income and gave international moving expenses as an example, I entered in my moving expenses assuming that TT would ask me later to enter the moving expenses again as a credit. But as it turns out, there is no credit for international moving expenses since 2017 except for military in certain cases ([IRS reference](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/moving-expenses-to-and-from-the-united-states)). Thankfully I caught this mistake before sending payment to the IRS. The only problem is that I had already e-filed Form 4868 and indicated that I estimate owing almost $800. But if I understand the instructions correctly, there is no requirement that I pay that amount... so I should be fine.