Do I still need to file taxes if my income was less than the filing threshold for my filing status but was "Foreign Earned (exclusion)?"

[drcostin1]

I was not permitted to efile through the turbotax system but am wondering if I need to file at all.

[SeanE1]

The IRS requires the filing of an income tax return if your income is below the threshold because the foreign income exclusion is voluntary:

"2.  If my foreign earned income is below the foreign earned income exclusion threshold amount, am I still required to file a U.S. individual income tax return?

Yes, since the foreign earned income exclusion is voluntary, you must file a tax return to claim the foreign earned income exclusion.  It does not matter if your foreign earnings are below the foreign earned income exclusion threshold.

There are specific requirements that you must satisfy to be eligible to claim the foreign earned income exclusion.  See the “Foreign Earned Income and Housing: Exclusion – Deduction” section in Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad, for more details."  This excerpt is from this IRS publication: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/frequently-asked-questions-about-internation...

So you will have to mail your 2016 income tax return according to the instructions that are included with your printed return.

[drcostin1]

When I said my income was below the filing threshold, I was not referring to the Foreign Earned Income threshold. I was referring to the US filing threshold given my status. If I were to have earned the same amount in the US, I would not be required to file at all. Please confirm that I will still have to file.