Self-Employed & Form 2555

[KellyDay]

Trying to understand Form 2555. 

Foreign self-employment income only. No other income.

So technically could qualify for FEIE and Housing Deduction?

If I pay rent for an apartment, where would I enter that on Form 2555?

If entered on Line 28 only, then Part IX doesn't calculate since Line 27 = Line 43. 

What am I doing wrong?

[ThomasM125]

You may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion. You would enter the rent you pay for your apartment on Form 2555, line 28. Your housing allowance must exceed $20,800 in 2025 to be deductible per this IRS article on foreign housing exclusion or deduction , I believe that is likely why you are not getting your housing deduction in part IX of Form 2555.

[KellyDay]

Thank you for the response. I do qualify for the FEIE with foreign self-employment income.  

And my rent is > $20,800. 

But apparently since the rent I pay is technically not a "Housing Allowance", unfortunately there is no Housing Deduction. (Unless my income would exceed the FEIE max of ~$130k).

I could be wrong, but that's how the math looks to me.