Why am I being asked to fill out Form 8919?

[rel-tax]

I am a full time employee who earns a salary and pays taxes on my income abroad. I do not currently live in the US. 

I filled out my foreign income manually since we don’t have W2s or 1099s where I live. Now I’m being asked to fill out the 8919 but I’m not sure why. I’m not an independent contractor. I work for a globally recognizes tech company. 

Can anyone let me know how to remove this document from my filing or which reason code I need to use if I can’t remove it? If I mail in the return instead of e-filing can I just leave this “error” and not get penalized for it?

[Mike9241]

you are likely preparing your return incorrectly. you may be eligible for the foreign earned income exclusion. I strongly suggest you use a tax pro in the country where you reside who is familiar with US taxation.  that could be a large accounting or law firm. or you can review form 2555 and the instructions to see if you qualify. 

you can use this link  International section to see if you qualify)

https://www.irs.gov/help/ita 

here is another link that discusses liability for social security and medicare taxes

https://brighttax.com/blog/social-security-us-expat-taxes/#:~:text=As%20a%20rule%20of%20thumb%2C%20e... 

form

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f2555.pdf 

instructions

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i2555.pdf 

[rjs]

What exactly do you mean by filling out your foreign income "manually"? Did you enter it as "Employee Compensation Not Reported on a W-2"? That's not for foreign income.

To enter foreign earned income in TurboTax, in the Search box type "foreign income" (without the quotes), then click the link that says "Jump to foreign income." When TurboTax asks what form the foreign income was reported on, select "A statement from my foreign employer (could be cash)." If you select the option to exclude your foreign income, TurboTax will ask questions to determine whether you qualify, and will fill out Form 2555 if you do qualify.

[rel-tax]

I am eligible for the foreign earned income exclusion and I am set to receive it (the 2555 is filled out). 

Yet for some reason, I'm still also being asked to fill out the 8919 and I'm not sure why. 

[rel-tax]

That's what I meant by manually- I did exactly that. I just meant I don't have a W2 so I filled out the details myself (after entering my foreign income)

[rjs]

So delete the Employee Compensation Not Reported on a W-2. After you entered the foreign income, and Form 2555 is filled out, you are finished. You do not have to enter the same income anywhere else. The Employee Compensation Not Reported on a W-2 is what is pushing you into Form 8919.