Cannot E-file while abroad

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
June 5, 2019
5 replies
32 views

I am currently living abroad and qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion tax credit, but when i try to file it says I cannot e-file because the 1040 form is not complete. I cannot find a way to complete the form so that I can e-file. I was able to e-file last year with no issues

TurboTax Deluxe Online

DoninGA

Level 15

If you have excluded all the Foreign Earned Income from your tax return and there is no taxable income being reported on the tax return, then the tax return cannot be e-filed. It will have to be printed and mailed.

However, you can include $1 of interest income so the return will have taxable income reported and then you will be able to e-file. Report the interest income on a Form 1099-INT. You can use any name for the payer of the interest and then enter $1 in box 1 of the form.

Enter 1099-int in the Search box located in the upper right of the program screen. Click on Jump to 1099-int

ambra1982

Level 2

I applied the $1 interest workaround but the platform does not simply allow e-filing for expats, because towards the end it prompts for a US-based phone number.

It is really an issue that should be escalated since Turbo Tax is listed among the available IRS free file programs for US Citizens living abroad right on the IRS website.