American Citizen Services

Tax

Can an Embassy officer help me with my taxes?
Embassy Officers are not permitted to give advice on the filing of income tax returns, other than to refer taxpayers to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service (IRS) forms and information pamphlets, many of which are available at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Only IRS employees are authorized to provide guidance to individuals on tax matters. Inquiries on tax matters should be directed to IRS.

How do I contact the IRS?
Taxpayers located outside the U.S. may contact the IRS by mail at:
Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 920
Bensalem, PA 19020
Or you may telephone or FAX the Philadelphia Service Center office at:
Tel: 215-516-2000 (not toll-free)
Fax: 215-516-2555
Phone service available from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm (EST) M-F

You can also download IRS forms and publications from the IRS Internet address at http://www.irs.gov.

Does the Embassy have tax forms?
Each year, the Embassy receives copies of the most common federal tax forms, plus a CD-ROM with all IRS publications. Please note that we do not carry any state tax forms. You must contact your individual state of residence to obtain those forms.

What if I can't file in time?
Overseas taxpayers are automatically eligible for a two-month extension if they are unable to file their taxes by the April 15 deadline. Simply wrote "Overseas Taxpayer" at the top of your return to claim the extension. Please note that an extension to file does not mean to have an extention to pay. If you owe tax, interest will accrue from the April 15 deadline.

Since I live overseas, aren't I exempt from paying?
Some overseas taxpayers may qualify for the Foreign-Earned Income Exclusion. However, there are strict qualifying criteria. Please consult with the IRS or an accountant to learn if you qualify.