Question 1

Do US citizens living in the UK have to file a US tax return?

Accepted Answer

Yes. US citizens and green card holders must file a US federal tax return every year regardless of where they live, reporting worldwide income. Living in the UK does not remove this obligation — but reliefs like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit usually prevent you from being taxed twice.

Question 2

Can I be taxed twice on the same income in the US and the UK?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. The US–UK tax treaty, combined with the Foreign Tax Credit and Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, is designed to prevent double taxation. Most clients legally owe tax in only one jurisdiction on a given income source when their filings are structured correctly.

Question 3

What is the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedure?

Accepted Answer

The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedure lets US taxpayers who were unaware of their obligations catch up penalty-free. It typically requires three years of tax returns and six years of FBARs, plus a statement certifying the failure to file was non-wilful.

Question 4

Do I need to file an FBAR if I live in the UK?

Accepted Answer

If you are a US person and the combined balance of your non-US financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point in the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). This includes UK current accounts, ISAs, pensions and joint accounts.

Question 5

Can one firm really handle both my US and UK taxes?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that is exactly what we specialise in. Rather than coordinating a UK accountant and a US preparer who never speak to each other, our team handles both sides together, so your treaty positions, credits and filings line up across jurisdictions.

Glossary