Friends,
USC living in India. Can one of you please let me know which software allows filing free with FTC or FEI?
Taxact and Turbotax does not allow these for free.
Thanks
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
Excerpt from TAXACT help topics.....
[QUOTE]To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking the foreign earned income exclusion on Form 2555:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Other Income to expand the category and then click Foreign earned income exclusions
Click Add to create a new copy of the form or click Review to review a form already created
The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information.
[/LIST]
The exclusion amount will appear as a negative number on Form 1040, Line 21.
Form 1116:
This form is used to claim a credit for foreign taxes paid.
To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking a credit for foreign taxes paid on Form 1116:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Other Credits to expand the category and then click Foreign tax credit
Click Manual Input Worksheet to enter the information by category of income on the Form 1116 worksheets which will populate the Forms 1116 in your return. Information entered in the worksheets section include category of income, amount of income, type of income, and the foreign taxes paid or accrued.
Click Add to create a new copy of the worksheet or click Review to review a worksheet already created.
The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information
[/LIST]
While entering information for each of the different categories of foreign income that apply to your situation, there will be a screen titled Foreign Tax Credit - Additional Entries where you can check the box next to each item that applies in your situation. On the following screen(s) you will be able to enter descriptions and amounts.
Additional information may need to be entered on the Form 1116 (i.e. country of residence, alternative basis related to income source, amount of income from all sources, lump-sum distributions, foreign audit, boycott entry, etc.). Please use steps 1 and 2 above, then click Form Interview to access these interview screens.
The credit will appear on Form 1040, Line 48 and will be limited by your tax liability.
Schedule A:
This form is used to claim various itemized deductions, including a foreign income tax deduction.
To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking a deduction of foreign taxes paid on Schedule A:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal Q&A tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Itemized or Standard Deductions to expand the category and then click Taxes Paid
Click Continue or No until you reach the screen titled Itemized Deductions - Other Taxes Paid
Enter a description and amount of the foreign tax deduction
[/LIST]
The deduction will appear on Schedule A, Line 8 and will be added to your total itemized deductions on Form 1040, Line 40.
NOTE: You may use Form 2555 and Form 1116 on the same return, but cannot use the same earnings (and taxes paid relating to those earnings) on both forms. For example, if your foreign earned income is $119,600, you can only exclude foreign earned income up to $100,800 on the Form 2555 which will reduce your taxable income on the return. The remaining foreign earned income of $18,800 may be used on Form 1116. You would need to determine which amount of the foreign taxes paid are allocable to the $18,800 and only use this portion of the foreign taxes in the calculations on Form 1116.
On the other hand, if you would like to claim a foreign tax deduction instead of the foreign tax credit, then you would use Schedule A instead of Form 1116. Please note: IRS Publication 514 specifically states "as a general rule, you must choose to take either a credit or a deduction for all qualified foreign taxes." This means you cannot take a foreign tax credit and deduction on the same return. To clarify, you can use Form 2555 and Form 1116 on the same return, and you can use Form 2555 and Schedule A on the same return; however, if you claim a deduction you cannot claim a credit and if you claim a credit, you cannot claim a deduction.
An exception to this rule is if you have foreign taxes other than income taxes (e.g. real and personal property taxes). Those foreign taxes are claimed as a deduction on different lines of the Schedule A. Only in this instance would you be able to claim a foreign tax credit and take a deduction.
Generally, it is more beneficial to claim foreign taxes paid as a credit rather than claiming a deduction. You may wish to do a comparison to determine which is best in your situation.
[h=3]Related Links:[/h]
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[QUOTE]To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking the foreign earned income exclusion on Form 2555:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Other Income to expand the category and then click Foreign earned income exclusions
Click Add to create a new copy of the form or click Review to review a form already created
The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information.
[/LIST]
The exclusion amount will appear as a negative number on Form 1040, Line 21.
Form 1116:
This form is used to claim a credit for foreign taxes paid.
To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking a credit for foreign taxes paid on Form 1116:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Other Credits to expand the category and then click Foreign tax credit
Click Manual Input Worksheet to enter the information by category of income on the Form 1116 worksheets which will populate the Forms 1116 in your return. Information entered in the worksheets section include category of income, amount of income, type of income, and the foreign taxes paid or accrued.
Click Add to create a new copy of the worksheet or click Review to review a worksheet already created.
The program will proceed with the interview questions for you to enter or review the appropriate information
[/LIST]
While entering information for each of the different categories of foreign income that apply to your situation, there will be a screen titled Foreign Tax Credit - Additional Entries where you can check the box next to each item that applies in your situation. On the following screen(s) you will be able to enter descriptions and amounts.
Additional information may need to be entered on the Form 1116 (i.e. country of residence, alternative basis related to income source, amount of income from all sources, lump-sum distributions, foreign audit, boycott entry, etc.). Please use steps 1 and 2 above, then click Form Interview to access these interview screens.
The credit will appear on Form 1040, Line 48 and will be limited by your tax liability.
Schedule A:
This form is used to claim various itemized deductions, including a foreign income tax deduction.
To enter information in the TaxAct program for taking a deduction of foreign taxes paid on Schedule A:
[LIST=1]
From within your TaxAct return (Online or Desktop), click on the Federal Q&A tab. On smaller devices, click in the upper left-hand corner, then select Federal.
Click Itemized or Standard Deductions to expand the category and then click Taxes Paid
Click Continue or No until you reach the screen titled Itemized Deductions - Other Taxes Paid
Enter a description and amount of the foreign tax deduction
[/LIST]
The deduction will appear on Schedule A, Line 8 and will be added to your total itemized deductions on Form 1040, Line 40.
NOTE: You may use Form 2555 and Form 1116 on the same return, but cannot use the same earnings (and taxes paid relating to those earnings) on both forms. For example, if your foreign earned income is $119,600, you can only exclude foreign earned income up to $100,800 on the Form 2555 which will reduce your taxable income on the return. The remaining foreign earned income of $18,800 may be used on Form 1116. You would need to determine which amount of the foreign taxes paid are allocable to the $18,800 and only use this portion of the foreign taxes in the calculations on Form 1116.
On the other hand, if you would like to claim a foreign tax deduction instead of the foreign tax credit, then you would use Schedule A instead of Form 1116. Please note: IRS Publication 514 specifically states "as a general rule, you must choose to take either a credit or a deduction for all qualified foreign taxes." This means you cannot take a foreign tax credit and deduction on the same return. To clarify, you can use Form 2555 and Form 1116 on the same return, and you can use Form 2555 and Schedule A on the same return; however, if you claim a deduction you cannot claim a credit and if you claim a credit, you cannot claim a deduction.
An exception to this rule is if you have foreign taxes other than income taxes (e.g. real and personal property taxes). Those foreign taxes are claimed as a deduction on different lines of the Schedule A. Only in this instance would you be able to claim a foreign tax credit and take a deduction.
Generally, it is more beneficial to claim foreign taxes paid as a credit rather than claiming a deduction. You may wish to do a comparison to determine which is best in your situation.
[h=3]Related Links:[/h]
IRS Publication 54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
IRS Publication 514 Foreign Tax Credit for Individuals
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Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
okonomi;630773Excerpt from TAXACT help topics.....
Hi Okonomi,
Yes, Taxact allows FTC and FEI. But to get these you have to pay. I was checking whether anyone able to find any software that is free and provides FEI and FTC.
Thanks again
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
As per IRS website, TaxAct is one of the free filing options, if one's income is less than $62,000 (not sure if the threshold includes foreign source income as well)
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
boomerang;631841As per IRS website, TaxAct is one of the free filing options, if one's income is less than $62,000 (not sure if the threshold includes foreign source income as well)
The Income limit for FREE TAX FILING is the "Adjusted Gross Income" that computes in the last line of page 1 of form 1040. This income does not include Foreign Earned Income. For example, if a person were to EARN $100K in India, and make $62K in investments also in INDIA, the total foreign source income would be $162K, and the adjusted gross income would be $62K (the FEI exclusion for 2015 is $100800, but only $100K is eligible for a deduction). This person would qualify for free tax filing help.
If another person made an earned income of $62K in India and made $100K from investments, the adjusted gross would be $100K, and no free tax filing.
[QUOTE]Income – Other Income; Form 1040, Lines 21-22
16-16
What is the foreign earned income exclusion?
Use Form 2555-EZ or Form 2555 to claim the foreign earned income exclusion. Certain taxpayers can
exclude income earned in, and while living in, foreign countries
.
The maximum amount of the foreign
earned income exclusion is indexed to inflation annually. For the current year amount go to www.irs.gov or
Publication 17
.
The foreign earned income exclusion
does not
apply to
wages and salaries of U
.
S
.
military
members and civilian employees of the U
.
S
.
government
.
If the taxpayer qualifies to exclude foreign earned income, the excludable amount will be reported as a
negative amount on Form 1040, line 21
.
Since the foreign earned income would have been reported on
Form 1040, line 7 as taxable wages or on line 12 as
self-employment
income, the exclusion (negative amount) will reduce the total income calcu
-
lated on line 22
.
The method of calculating the tax when the taxpayer elects
the foreign earned income exclusion is based on the Foreign Earned Income
Tax Worksheet
.
The tax software will do this calculation automatically
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
r2iby2007;630779Hi Okonomi,
Yes, Taxact allows FTC and FEI. But to get these you have to pay. I was checking whether anyone able to find any software that is free and provides FEI and FTC.
Thanks again
So, how much does it cost? An accounting firm in India is asking me around $450 to file US Tax Return, FBAR and ITR. Isn't $450 high? What is a fair price for a straight forward filing.
I would prefer someone doing it for me. Don't have the interest or patience to spend hours on that.
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
Gurg15;631862So, how much does it cost? An accounting firm in India is asking me around $450 to file US Tax Return, FBAR and ITR. Isn't $450 high? What is a fair price for a straight forward filing.
I would prefer someone doing it for me. Don't have the interest or patience to spend hours on that.
How many hours ? And what is your hourly cost/wage ?
$450 is Cheap. You ought to worry in the other direction : whether these cheapskates would be any good.
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
Gurg15;631862So, how much does it cost? An accounting firm in India is asking me around $450 to file US Tax Return, FBAR and ITR. Isn't $450 high? What is a fair price for a straight forward filing.
I would prefer someone doing it for me. Don't have the interest or patience to spend hours on that.
Electricians/Plumbers in our area costs something like 100/hr. They do not charge by hour but I have noticed the amount of time they spend on doing the job and what they charge. This I think is fair. It comes to 20k/month (100x8x25). They of course have no office costs but travel and communication costs they have to incur.
$450 = 30k. Assume some rate for the tax expertise and estimate the time consumed to fill and file your tax return. Decide if it is fair.
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
okonomi;631869How many hours ? And what is your hourly cost/wage ?
$450 is Cheap. You ought to worry in the other direction : whether these cheapskates would be any good.
I am assuming a professional would be able to sort through the documents, input the data and spew out the PDF's in 2-4 hours max, while I would need much more time to learn. My wages are on the higher side and I don't want to be quoted higher, because of it. So, $450 is affordable for doing this right, is it.:))
dbs;631874.. $450 = 30k. Assume some rate for the tax expertise and estimate the time consumed to fill and file your tax return. Decide if it is fair.
On a side note, in India Price gouging is always in play.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Gurgaon/Govt-panel-stays-fee-hike-in-six-top-private-schools/articleshow/51901236.cms
Which free tax filing software allows FTC or Foreign Earned Income credit
Gurg15;631878.....
On a side note, in India Price gouging is always in play.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Gurgaon/Govt-panel-stays-fee-hike-in-six-top-private-schools/articleshow/51901236.cms
School fee gouging ?
Someone said that part of the school fees can be a deductible item for ITR.
On a side note.... it is always good not to haggle with your accountant on the fees ---- and then submit your innermost financial secrets in her/his safe keeping, and "use". It is best to overpay your accountant, if you can see the rationale for it.