I am a US expatriate who lived and worked in Switzerland all during 2017. Can Turbotax handle my 2017 US Federal Tax Return preparation, and which version should I use?

[DoninGA · Accepted solution]

If you are a US citizen or US resident you can use TurboTax to complete and file a tax return, regardless of where you live.  A tax return can be e-filed from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

You must have a US credit card with a US billing address to purchase any products from the TurboTax website.  If your tax return has a tax refund you must have a US bank located in the US to direct deposit a tax refund.  Otherwise, the IRS will mail your refund as a check to the address on your tax return.

Go to this IRS website to review Publication 54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad - https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Foreign Earned Income is reported on a Form 2555.  See this TurboTax support FAQ for Form 2555 - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901203-what-are-forms-2555-and-2555-ez-used-for

Foreign Taxes Paid are entered on a Form 1116.  See this TurboTax support FAQ for a Form 1116 - https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/1901623-where-do-i-enter-the-foreign-tax-credit-form-1116-or-deduc...

Using the TurboTax online editions you will need the Deluxe edition or higher to report Foreign Earned Income or Foreign Taxes Paid.

Using the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions, any of the editions can be used.  However, the Deluxe or higher editions are recommended as they provide more guidance and help then the Basic edition.

Go to this website for the TurboTax online editions - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/online/

Go to this website for the TurboTax desktop CD/Download editions - https://turbotax.intuit.com/personal-taxes/cd-download/

[wzimmerman83]

The US Bank account for direct deposit WILL NOT work for expats. I just went through the process - using a relative's debit card for the purchase but my bank account for direct deposit (schwab) will not work as the address is outside of the US. This a feature that needs to be fixed - and billing and direct deposit are linked currently.