Hey DIY’ers! If you’ve never done a US tax return, and you are keen to try, here’s a list of the most common forms US citizens living abroad need to do their own returns, and a few important tips…
To get started, identify which forms you need from the list below. You can find fillable PDF forms, instructions and publications on the IRS website.
When you search for forms, you also typically see the corresponding instructions. Be sure to download and read these!
Remember, as you fill in the forms, to convert your amounts to US dollars!
Alright, drumroll… Here is the list of common forms:
| Form | Description |
|---|---|
| 1040 (required) | Main tax return form. (Non-US persons, use 1040NR). |
| Schedule 1 | List extra varieties of income on p1, common deductions on p2. |
| Schedule 3 | Flows the foreign tax credit from form 1116, and alternative minimum tax from form 6251, onto form 1040. |
| Schedule A | Used to show medical, US donation, and allowable tax deductions. Only use if those deductions are greater than the "standard deduction" (For 2024, $15,000 if single, or $30,000 if married filing jointly). |
| Schedule B | List dividends and interest; on line 7, answer whether FBAR is required (see FBAR below). (Line 7 is REQUIRED of citizens living abroad). On line 8, answer whether you have a foreign trust (if you do, see our article on more specialized forms!) |
| Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ | Self-employment reporting (Be sure to put total net income from all Schedules C onto Schedule 1). |
| Schedule D | (Use form 8949 to itemize) Capital gains/losses, capital gains distributions |
| Schedule E | Real estate rents, or royalties (Be sure to put total net income from all Schedules E onto Schedule 1). |
| 2555 or 2555-EZ | Foreign Earned Income Exclusion The easiest way to be tax free when living outside the United States, when your income is below a fairly generous threshold ($126,500 USD for 2024, $130,000 USD for 2025). (Be sure to put the total exclusion amount (for both spouses if applicable) on Schedule 1). |
| 1116 | Foreign tax credit Use separate form for separate income categories (passive, general, etc... see form instructions). (Be sure to report total foreign tax credit amount from all forms 1116 on Schedule 3). |
See our more complete article, covering more specialized tax reporting situations US citizens abroad can face.
Important recommendations:
- If you are DIY’er, you might want to choose to have a professional do your return the first year, so that you can discover any tips, tricks or traps on your particular tax return.
- Do NOT file delinquent tax returns with the IRS until you learn how to avoid penalties!