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New Member
posted Jun 1, 2019 4:54:01 PM

I have the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for all my wages and self-employment - so why is TurboTax showing I still owe Federal Tax??

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4 Replies
Expert Alumni
Jun 1, 2019 4:54:02 PM

It is most likely caused by the self-employment tax, check Schedule 4, line 57.  If you are self-employed you still have to pay the self-employment tax even if that income is excluded. 

You can preview your 1040:

  1. On the left side of your screen, select Tax Tools, then Tools.
  2. Under Tool Center, select View Tax Summary.
  3. On the left side of your screen, select Preview my 1040.

New Member
Jun 1, 2019 4:54:03 PM

Thanks but that’s  that’s wrong - we have a tax totalization treaty with the US so no s/e tax is due. I think Turbo’s algorithm can’t handle it.

Expert Alumni
Jun 1, 2019 4:54:04 PM

Sorry that this wasn't helpful but generally US citizens will have to still pay self-employment taxes. You did not mention in your question that you were exempt.

New Member
Jun 1, 2019 4:54:06 PM

No worries, appreciate your reply and it's not your fault at all.  Their form is not sophisticated enough to recognize that someone filing the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is likely to live in a country where the exemption exists.  I probably can't continue with TurboTax unfortunately.