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 the regional Revenue Service Representative at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo or to the Assistant Commissioner (International Division) in Washington, DC.

How do I contact the IRS?
The IRA representative at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo can be reached at:
American Embassy
10-5, Akasaka I-chome
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107, Japan
Tel: (81)(3) 987-1441
Fax: (81)(3) 224-5274

Assistant Commissioner of the International Division can be reached at:
Internal Revenue Service
950 L'Enfant Plaza South, S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
Attention: Taxpayer Services Division

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.