I tried e-filing but with zero income it will not let me file. I don't want to lie and say I made money when I didn't, just to push it through, but maybe I have to? I haven't been able to file for 2 years now because of this and i don't want to get into trouble for tax evasion and not be able to go home! I badly WANT to file my taxes I just don't know how to from Israel. Can anyone please help?
in the filing requirements for the form 1040 it is only required if you make above a certain amount of money in a year. If you truly make no income you aren't required to file and it isn't tax evasion.
If your income is actually $0 there's no need for you to file. You only need to file if your income exceeds the filing requirement amount for your filing status. If your income is less that that and you have not had any taxes withheld from your pay or made estimated tax payments, filing a return would be pointless.
Tax evasion is the illegal avoidance of PAYING taxes. Filing or not filing a tax return has little to do with the crime of tax evasion in and of itself. $0 income = $0 tax so there's no case for tax evasion.
If you insist on filing a $0 sum tax return you'll have to do that by mail. Israel has a postal service and if you send your return via airmail the IRS will have it in a week or so.
You are not required to file a US tax return with income less than $3,000. However, if you are earning income in Israel you are required to report as a citizen (or green card holder) of the U.S. There is, however, a foreign earned income exclusion (by filing form 2555) and foreign tax credits that you potentially would be able to utilize it order to not be taxed in both jurisdictions.
So, Candy, how do you pay your bills? If the IRS ever wonder how you've paid them, then they might wonder why there is no tax return. This tends to come up when you return to the US.
If you are young and a student, don't worry about it.
If you are young and married and your spouse has the income, don't worry about it.
If you are living off savings (with interest,dividends, etc less than $9350), don't worry about it.
If you *still* feel the need to file, print a copy of a 1040EZ and just mail it in.
You are only required to file when you have taxable income. Otherwise you are fine.