If i live in another country and i am a US citizen how and what do i file my taxes?

[loch-6]

i always got a return, if i live in another country will i still be able to get a return?

[viktoriyab11 · Accepted solution]

If you are a U.S. citizen the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside. 

If you have gross income from worldwide sources that are at least the amount shown for your filing status, you must file a tax return. (Foreign Income: you must convert your foreign currency into US dollars).

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad-filin...

If you receive a refund or no, depend on many factors:  your filing status, income, withholding.

In general U.S. citizens and resident aliens from the United States living or working in a foreign country are allowed the same deductions as U.S. citizens and residents from the U.S. living in the United States.

Also, if you pay taxes in a foreign country, you might be entitled to receive the Foreign tax credit. 

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-tax-credit

If you moved to a new home in 2017 because of your job or business, you may be able to deduct the expenses of your move. Generally, to be deductible, the moving expenses must have been paid or incurred in connection with starting work at a new job location. See Pub. 521 for a complete discussion of the deduction for moving expenses and information about moves within the United States.

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p521.pdf

More information you will find in Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad

https://www.irs.gov/publications/p54

If you are a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (green card holder) living outside the United States, please register with the State Department’s Office of American Citizens Services and provide them with your most current contact information (local address and phone number, email address, etc.) and update them as frequently as necessary. This will help them contact you about the delivery of any refund check that may not include your correct mailing address.

[loch-6]

thank you so much. so i file a regular 1040?

[viktoriyab11]

Yes. You are very welcome.

[rtandrews]

Along the same line of questioning, I am a US citizen but a permanent resident of British Columbia as I live and work in BC now.  I also work for a Canadian employer so most of my income is from Canada other than some investment dividends in the US.  I have to file taxes in both countries (US and Canada) and in the past I've had to get two accountants to do this and cost to develop my taxes in the US is typically costly, so looking to file my US taxes with turbotax this year.  My main questions is that given my situation, which turbotax product is the right one to use for my situation, so that I could give my Canadian accountant my US return from turbotax so that he can finalize my overall taxes. 

[ErnieS0]

You can start with the free version of TurboTax @rtandrews. The program will ask you to upgrade as you go along if you need to.

TurboTax Premier handles investments, but if your only investment income is dividends you can probably use TurboTax Deluxe. However, I'd recommend starting with Free if you are new to TurboTax.

TurboTax can handle the foreign earned income exclusion and the foreign tax credit.

TurboTax also makes a Canadian version if you want to file your Canadian taxes through TurboTax. The versions do not link so if you are working online, you'd need two separate accounts.