USA US citizen abroad: What is the minimum income threshold that I'm obligated to report to IRS?

[Amir79]

I’m a US citizen and have been living abroad for several years. I was under the impression that if I don’t make a certain minimum amount of income, I wouldn’t need to file tax returns in the US. Though the income that my wife (a national of the country in which I reside) earns has been enough to live off of, I have also worked a job here where I was getting paid under-the-table, essentially. The pay for this job was not much and less than US federal minimum wage, and there is no local equivalent of W-2 forms from what I made.

Recently, however, another American I know here suggested that I’d better look into this matter more thoroughly. So, my question is, am I required to report anything about this to the IRS?

 

[espresso_941]

I’m a US citizen and have been living abroad for several years. I was under the impression that if I don’t make a certain minimum amount of income, I wouldn’t need to file tax returns in the US. Though the income that my wife (a national of the country in which I reside) earns has been enough to live off of, I have also worked a job here where I was getting paid under-the-table, essentially. The pay for this job was not much and less than US federal minimum wage, and there is no local equivalent of W-2 forms from what I made.

Recently, however, another American I know here suggested that I’d better look into this matter more thoroughly. So, my question is, am I required to report anything about this to the IRS?

Are you ever planning on coming back? Or do you have any US based assets?
If so you should talk to a ex-pat CPA whom is familiar with such matters.

About Publication 54, Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad | Internal Revenue Service

Information about Publication 54 including recent updates, related forms, and instructions on how to file. This publication discusses special tax rules for U.S. citizens and resident aliens who work abroad or who have income earned in foreign countries.

www.irs.gov