Hi everyone I have a question. So my family is pressing me about getting the things I need to file for income taxes in the states based on my income in Japan but apparently the form I was given by my boss isn’t what was needed. I’ve tried asking my coworkers but their response is “we don’t and just deal with it when we get back because we don’t really make enough to get taxed”. So if anyone has any insight on what I need to prepare and get from city hall or my boss for this it’d be greatly appreciated. My employer handles all my Japanese taxes before I even see my paycheck. Taxes, pension, health insurance, etc. I don’t touch that stuff and the form I was given for 令和3年, the “withholding slip” I think is what it translated to, wasn’t what my family wanted.
4 comments
Did the slip show the yearly amount you were paid, paid in taxes, etc., Etc.? If so, that’s what I always used.
My understanding is the IRS knows when you get laid in a foreign country they don’t do everything the same. So it’s a “best effort…” I used to take the yearly wages slip, photocopy it and make a translation where I would change the yen values into USD and write in English what the fields mean. I did that for 5 or so years and was never asked a question.
As your coworks point out I never made enough to owe taxes, but the IRS still wants to see.
Perhaps you know this already, but also do not forget to file your FBAR!
This is a mandatory report required by the Treasury, and if you don’t file/forget, you may be liable for penalties.
I didn’t file taxes for like 5 years in a row. I filed zero to get coronavirus money. Basically, if you are overseas for more than half the year, the IRS doesn’t give a damn about you unless you have a lot of money. If you are not throwing around 100 grand USD a year, then you have nothing to worry about.
Do pay your Japanese taxes. Japan will come after you.
There are several online tax services that allow Americans living abroad to file US taxes online by filling out an online questionnaire. Some of them [offer free filing](https://www.taxslayer.com) if you don’t have any taxable income, which you won’t if your income in Japan is below the $75,000 foreign income exemption.