Resources to File Your US Taxes from Australia

General Information for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens

If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gift tax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside.
If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien residing overseas, or are in the military on duty outside the U.S., on the regular due date of your return, you are allowed an automatic 2-month extension to file your return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension.
For a calendar year return, the automatic 2-month extension is to June 15. If you qualify for this 2-month extension, penalties for paying any tax late are assessed from the 2-month extended due date of the payment (June 15 for calendar year taxpayers). However, even if you are allowed an extension, you will have to pay interest on any tax not paid by the regular due date of your return (April 15 for calendar year taxpayers).
If you qualify for the 2-month extension but are unable to file your return by the automatic 2-month extension date, you can request an additional extension to October 15 by filing Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, before the automatic 2-month extension date.
Please note that even if you are allowed extensions to June 15 and/or October 15, you will owe interest on any unpaid tax amount from the original due date of the return (April 15 for calendar year taxpayers).

For detailed information on filing your U.S. taxes from abroad, please read the IRS Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad.

Tax Treaty Information

The United States has tax treaties with a number of foreign countries. Under these treaties, residents or citizens of foreign countries are taxed at a reduced rate, or are exempt from U.S. taxes on certain items of income they receive from sources within the United States.

For further details, click on the link to view and download the Tax Treaty between Australia and the United States.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

American taxpayers who live and/or work abroad may be able to exclude all or part of their foreign earned wages and self-employment income from their U.S. federal income tax through a provision called the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion.
To find out whether you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and to see the annual limits for the exclusion, click here.

Australia and the United States: FATCA Intergovernmental Agreement

There is currently an Intergovernmental Agreement in Effect between Australia and the United States.
Under FATCA provisions, participating nations are obligated to share financial information of United States citizens with the IRS.

Currency Converter from Australian Dollar to U.S. Dollar

United States Embassy Services

Embassy of the United States of America
Moonah Place
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Telephone: (02) 6214-5600