@ninjaaron having read through your post , below are my comments on the situation:
(a) you are absolutely correct in that your foreign earned income may be eligible for exclusion from US taxes up to a maximum ( for tax year 2021 it was US$108,700 ). However to be eligible for this exclusion there are few requirements -- 1. your tax home must be foreign; 2. you must meet "bona-fide resident test" (-- needs IRS approval) OR Physical Presence Test ( 330 days foreign presence in any continuous 12 month test period that includes the tax year in question; 3. your earnings must be either from employment in a foreign/ local entity or self-employment abroad i.e. income source must be foreign and 4. You must file a return to be able to take advantage of foreign earned income exclusion / foreign tax credit or deduction.
(b) I think TurboTax does have the capability to allow tax preparation for one year past on on-line { because many need to amend their past & filed return } , but I am not familiar with the process. Suggest strongly that you contact customer service and they should be able to make the facility available to you. Let me know if you need help on this and I will try to find more info for you .
(c) Can you do this by yourself -- yes. Download the forms -- 1040, its numbered schedules, instructions, 2555 and 1116. If you are able to provide more scenario info -- {{ When did you leave USA and when arrived in Germany, if you are married is your spouse a US citizen or German i.e. are you planning to file MFJ or MFS, how are you employed ( local / US services, US entity remote or what ), your approx total gross income ( before German taxes ) etc. etc. --- please no personally identifiable info -- this is open board. etc. etc. }} then we should be able to guide you to exact forms and schedule you would need --- then you should be able to use pencil/ calc. or excel spreadsheet to work out the form entries.
I hope this helps -- is there more I can do for you.
Grusse
pk
