US Tax Preparation

[kpilking]

Anyone have any recommendations for US tax preparation in Singapore? How much does this service generally cost (I'm a single man, should be simple, but the idea of dealing with all those forms is not appealing)? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[sundaymorningstaple]

If you are a single working stiff, with no income other than Salary, it's so easy you can do it yourself. Get yourself a copy of Pub 54, You can download a soft copy here:

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Paying attention to Wages (1040), dividend & Interest (Schedule B), and 2555-EZ (Income Earned abroad exclusion). These should possibly be the only ones you need. It can obviously get a lot more complicated, but these are easy and not really complicated at all.

Or you can go here:

http://singapore.usembassy.gov/tax_prep ... apore.html

I have been doing my own tax returns since 1969 both at home and here since 1983.

I do not vouch for any of the sites listed in the Embassy page as I've never used them, but be prepared probably for a bill over US$500 at least (just guessing).

25 years ago there used to be an H & R Block here but no more.

[kpilking]

Thanks, that's very helpful. Things may be complicated a bit because I think I should be able to carry forward a foreign tax credit from working in Australia a couple years ago, but I'll see if I can handle it based on your links.

[sundaymorningstaple]

You will probably also need to check out the Form 1116 Foreign Tax Credit as well then. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1116.pdf

[Eau2011]

You will probably also need to check out the Form 1116 Foreign Tax Credit as well then. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1116.pdf

SMS, are you familiar with form W8-BEN (Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding)? I got it from my bank in Germany because of my shares, it said I have to fill it.

[Strong Eagle]

I use a firm in the US to handle my US taxes. I pay about US$1000 but that includes filings for three foreign companies I own, as well as a fairly complicated US tax return. I'd guess you'd need to pay about US$500.

[JeremyJGreen]

I used Gary Carter. Very reasonable prices and a nice electronic screen to log things into.

www.thetaxguy.com