Is it possible to efile US and state income tax returns from China?

[dillytant]

My income is all generated in the USA: Social Security and rental income.

[mesquitebean]

What tax year are you asking about?  This past 2016 return or the upcoming 2017 return that will start efiling in January 2018?

In the desktop product, efiling a current 2016 federal tax return will end soon on November 18.

A USA credit/debit card with US billing address is required to pay TurboTax product fees.  A US credit/debit card or US bank account is required to pay any taxes due.    You have to have a USA bank account to receive any refund by direct deposit, if applicable; otherwise the IRS would mail a check.

[mesquitebean]

Also the states vary on which ones allow people to efile with non-US addresses.   So it depends on the state.

[dillytant]

Thanks for the comment. I am looking forward to doing my 2017 taxes. I do have a US based cc. I tried to efile last year, but had a problem getting an ITIN for my wife. I was recently told by an H&R Block person that I couldn't efile from China. I also need to do my Oregon state income taxes.

[mesquitebean]

TurboTax lets you efile at least the Federal return from foreign countries including China if you meet all the criteria, and for some states, also the state return, depending on the state.  See this FAQ:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1900705-can-i-e-file-with-a-foreign-address">https://ttlc.intuit.c...>

NOTE:  It's not enough to just have a US-based CC.  It also has to also have a US billing address so you can pay the TurboTax fees or if you want to use it to pay taxes due.

I don't know if Oregon lets you efile from China.  Here's how you can ask them.  You can get their email address or phone number at this page:
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/contact/Pages/default.aspx">http://www.oregon.gov/DOR/contact/Pages/defaul...>

Or you can contact TurboTax Support via messaging at Twitter or Facebook to ask them about Oregon:

<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax">https://twitter.com/TeamTurboTax</a>
or
<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/turbotax">https://www.facebook.com/turbotax</a>

[dillytant]

Thanks again! Yes, I do have a US billing address. I'll look into Oregon.

[dillytant]

The reason I asked, a person at H&R Block told me I couldn't efile from most if not all foreign countries. Then I saw indications online that she was wrong. Not the only thing she was wrong about BTW!

[mesquitebean]

I don't know what all that company allows, or whether the person just didn't know.  You'd have to ask other people there.

As I mentioned earlier,  if you have a Federal refund and want direct deposit, you'll also need a US bank account (or a prepaid debit card backed by a US bank).  The IRS will not deposit to a foreign bank account.

[dillytant]

I'm not even sure a foreigner can have a bank account in China...my wife does all the banking business in China. I do everything I need to do with an American cc or debit card. But I live in a bubble created by my wife, so I may be wrong. The HRB person MAY have been only talking about that company; I assumed she meant in general. Thanks again for all the good information!

[mesquitebean]

You're welcome.  Good luck.

[mesquitebean · Accepted solution]

See above discussion.