Tax Information

Tax Information

Federal Tax Information for U.S. Taxpayers Living Abroad flyers are available in ACS now! It is also downloadable from IRS website at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p4732.pdf.

Can a Consular officer help me with my taxes?

Consular 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. Consulate General in Guangzhou. Only IRS employees are authorized to provide guidance to individuals on tax matters.

How do I contact the IRS?

Taxpayers requiring IRS assistance can contact the IRS Philadelphia Service Center,
Customer Service Phone: 1-215-516-2000
Customer Service Fax: 1-215-516-2555

Quick & Easy Access to Tax Help & Forms

Main IRS website: www.irs.gov
Tax guidance for U.S. citizens abroad: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/international/article/0,,id=97324,00.html
Tax guidance for persons in the military:  http://www.irs.gov/individuals/military/index.html
Electronic payment website:  http://www.eftps.gov/
Refund information: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96596,00.html?portlet=4

Phone Services:
Individuals                                            1-800-829-1040
Businesses                                            1-800-829-4933
Customer Service Phone Number               1-215-516-2000
Refund Inquiries                                     1-800-829-4477
TeleTax                                               1-800-829-4477
ITINs after 6 weeks                                1-800-829-1040
Exempt Organization Help Desk                 1-877-829-5500
Tax Offset Program (TOP) Help Desk         1-800-304-3107
E-Services Help Desk                             1-512-416-7750

STATE TAX RETURNS:  For individual state income tax information, visit http://www.taxadmin.org/. 

Does the Consulate General have tax forms?

The Consulate does not have tax forms available but they are downloadable from the IRS website www.irs.gov.

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 extension 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.