IRS: U.S. taxpayers living, working abroad must file 2023 tax return by June 17

The IRS reminds taxpayers living and working outside the U.S. to file their 2023 federal income tax return by June 17, 2024. This deadline applies to both U.S. citizens and resident aliens U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad, including those with dual citizenship. 

If a taxpayer is a U.S. citizen or resident alien residing overseas or is in the military on duty outside the U.S., on the regular due date of their return, they are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file their return without requesting an extension. If they use a calendar year, the regular due date of their return is April 15, and the automatic extended due date would be June 15. Because June 15 falls on a Saturday this year, the due date is delayed until the next business day, June 17. 

A taxpayer qualifies for the June 17 extension to file and pay if they are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and on the regular due date of their return: 

• They are living outside the United States and Puerto Rico and their main place of business or post of duty is outside the United States and Puerto Rico, or 

• They are in military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico. 

Qualifying taxpayers should attach a statement to the return indicating which of these two situations applies. 

Many taxpayers living outside the U.S. qualify for tax benefits, such as the foreign earned income exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit, but they are available only if a U.S. return is filed. 

Federal law requires U.S. citizens and resident aliens to report any worldwide income, including income from foreign trusts and foreign bank and securities accounts. In most cases, affected taxpayers need to complete and attach Schedule B, Interest and Ordinary Dividends, to their Form 1040 series tax return. Part III of Schedule B asks about the existence of foreign accounts such as bank and securities accounts and usually requires U.S. citizens to report the country in which each account is located. 

In addition, certain taxpayers may also have to complete and attach to their return Form 8938, Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets. Generally, U.S. citizens, resident aliens and certain nonresident aliens must report specified foreign financial assets on this form if the aggregate value of those assets exceeds certain thresholds. For details, see the instructions for this form. 

Certain foreign financial accounts, such as bank accounts or brokerage accounts, must be reported by electronically filing Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), with the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The FBAR requirement applies to anyone with an interest in, or signature or other authority over foreign financial accounts whose aggregate value exceeded $10,000 at any time during 2023. 

The IRS encourages taxpayers with foreign assets, even relatively small ones, to check if this filing requirement applies to them. The form is available only through the Bank Secrecy Act E-Filing System. The deadline for filing the annual FBAR is April 15, 2024. However, FinCEN grants those who missed the April deadline an automatic extension until Oct. 15, 2024. There’s no need to request this extension. See FinCEN’s website for further information. 

Any income received or deductible expenses paid in foreign currency must be reported on a U.S. tax return in U.S. dollars. Likewise, any tax payments must be made in U.S. dollars. 

Taxpayers who relinquished their U.S. citizenship or ceased to be lawful permanent residents of the U.S. during 2023 must file a dual-status alien tax return and attach Form 8854, Initial and Annual Expatriation Statement. A copy of Form 8854 must also be filed with the IRS by the due date of the tax return (including extensions). See the instructions for this form and Notice 2009-85, Guidance for Expatriates Under Section 877A, for further details. 

Taxpayers who can’t meet the June 17 due date can request an automatic extension to Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. The IRS encourages anyone needing the additional time to make their request electronically. Several electronic options are available at IRS.gov/extensions. 

Businesses that need more time must file Form 7004, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File Certain Business Income Tax, Information and Other Returns.