June 16 Tax Deadline for Americans Abroad: What Expats Need to Know

What’s the Big News?

If you're an American living or working in another country, the IRS has a reminder for you: File your taxes by June 16, 2025. This special deadline is only for people who live outside the United States. It gives you two more months than the usual April deadline.

This extra time is helpful, but you still need to plan ahead. If you miss it, you could pay extra fees or interest.

Let’s break it down so you know what to do.

Who Needs to File?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (green card holder), you must file a tax return every year—even if you live in another country. This rule includes:

Adults working abroad
Retired Americans overseas
Students studying in other countries
U.S. military members stationed overseas

Even if you made all your money outside the U.S., you may still need to report it.

Why Is the Deadline Different?

Most Americans must file taxes by April 15, 2025. But if you live outside the U.S. on that date, the IRS gives you until June 16, 2025 to file your 2024 tax return.

That’s an automatic two-month extension. You don’t have to ask for it. It’s given to you just because you’re living abroad.

But be careful:

This is an extension to file—not to pay.

If you owe taxes, interest will still build up starting April 15. So it’s best to pay as early as you can.

What Forms Do You Need?

If you're filing from outside the U.S., you’ll probably need these forms:

Form 1040 – This is the basic U.S. tax return form.
Form 2555 – If you qualify, this form lets you exclude some foreign income.
Form 1116 – Use this if you want a credit for taxes you paid to a foreign country.

If you have a foreign bank account, you might also need to file an FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts).

What Is Foreign Earned Income?

The IRS lets you exclude up to $120,000 of foreign earned income in 2024 (for single filers). This means you may not have to pay U.S. tax on income you earned in another country.

To qualify, you must:

Live in another country for most of the year
Or stay in another country for at least 330 full days during a 12-month period

This is where Form 2555 comes in. It helps you claim that exclusion.

How to File from Another Country

You have options for filing your taxes while overseas:

File Online (E-file):
You can use IRS Free File or commercial tax software.
Hire a Tax Pro:
Many tax professionals specialize in expat taxes. They can help with tricky forms and make sure you don’t miss anything.
Mail Your Return:
If you prefer paper filing, you can mail your tax return to the IRS. But this can take longer, so start early.

Watch Out for These Mistakes

Living abroad can make taxes more complicated. Here are a few things to avoid:

Missing the Deadline: Even with extra time, June 16 sneaks up fast.
Forgetting Foreign Accounts: If you have over $10,000 in foreign accounts, you may need to file an FBAR.
Not Reporting All Income: Even if you don’t pay U.S. taxes, you must report your worldwide income.
Ignoring State Taxes: Some states still expect a return even if you’ve moved abroad.

Can I Get More Time?

Yes! If June 16 isn’t enough, you can request another extension to October 15, 2025. Use Form 4868 to ask for it. But remember:

You must file the form by June 16
This gives you more time to file—not to pay

Why It Matters

You may think you don’t owe anything, especially if you paid taxes in another country. But not filing at all can lead to:

Penalties and fees
Interest charges
Trouble renewing your passport
IRS audits

It’s better to file, even if you don’t owe anything. This shows the IRS that you’re doing the right thing.

What If I Already Filed?

Great job! If you filed your 2024 return and paid any taxes due, you're in the clear. But keep records of everything:

Tax returns
Payment receipts
Foreign income statements
Bank account reports

Save these for at least three years, just in case the IRS asks questions later.