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paying US taxes when not only American
Apr 6, 2010 @ 17:53

hey all


one of my friends is the lucky bearer of 4 passports, one of which is US (and another being Swiss). having lived all her life in Switzerland, she only found out she was supposed to pay taxes in the States when she went to spend a year there last year. she's now confused.


she's been told that unless she earns a certain amount (CHF 100.000, apparently), she doesn't have to pay any taxes in the States after all. is this true? if so, does she still have to declare her income? she was also told that, having lived most of her life outside the US meant she didn't actually have to do any of this stuff. again, is that true?


thanks for all your help!

The text you are quoting:

hey all


one of my friends is the lucky bearer of 4 passports, one of which is US (and another being Swiss). having lived all her life in Switzerland, she only found out she was supposed to pay taxes in the States when she went to spend a year there last year. she's now confused.


she's been told that unless she earns a certain amount (CHF 100.000, apparently), she doesn't have to pay any taxes in the States after all. is this true? if so, does she still have to declare her income? she was also told that, having lived most of her life outside the US meant she didn't actually have to do any of this stuff. again, is that true?


thanks for all your help!


MindaApr 6, 2010 @ 17:53
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Re: paying US taxes when not only American
Post 1
Apr 6, 2010 @ 18:50

well, the truth is,  as a US passport holder (  us citizen) she is obliged to file the 1040 A and the  2555 EZ forms. this year the amount of earnings which may be used to offset the us tax burden is $91'500. she must declare her total gross income in switzerland ( this means her income before avs, 2nd piller and other deductions are made!) not having known that she had to declare is not a valid excuse. however, if she has never had an income that was above the "exclusion" amount ( it has increased over the years from 70'000 $ about 10 years ago, to the present 91'500, she may be lucky and only have to pay a fine, or maybe nothing.


also, it should be noted that us citizens are required to report any and all bank acoounts that have had at any time a $ amount over $10'000. go to


http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f90221.pdf


read page 6


all the above forms are available on the net. you can also request the tax booklet wih all the forms and instrutions from the us embassy in bern.


she is also required to have a social security No. does she have this?


 


 

The text you are quoting:

well, the truth is,  as a US passport holder (  us citizen) she is obliged to file the 1040 A and the  2555 EZ forms. this year the amount of earnings which may be used to offset the us tax burden is $91'500. she must declare her total gross income in switzerland ( this means her income before avs, 2nd piller and other deductions are made!) not having known that she had to declare is not a valid excuse. however, if she has never had an income that was above the "exclusion" amount ( it has increased over the years from 70'000 $ about 10 years ago, to the present 91'500, she may be lucky and only have to pay a fine, or maybe nothing.


also, it should be noted that us citizens are required to report any and all bank acoounts that have had at any time a $ amount over $10'000. go to


http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f90221.pdf


read page 6


all the above forms are available on the net. you can also request the tax booklet wih all the forms and instrutions from the us embassy in bern.


she is also required to have a social security No. does she have this?


 


 


epicure, Apr 6, 2010 @ 18:50
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Re: paying US taxes when not only American
Post 2
Apr 7, 2010 @ 13:02

thanks for the info. it's as i expected...


i have no idea if she has a social security number but i'll ask. in the States, you mean, right? what is that for and what happens if she doesn't have one?

The text you are quoting:

thanks for the info. it's as i expected...


i have no idea if she has a social security number but i'll ask. in the States, you mean, right? what is that for and what happens if she doesn't have one?


Minda, Apr 7, 2010 @ 13:02
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