IRS E-Filing Open for the 2025 Tax Season
January 27, 2025 | Expat Tax Deadlines, Featured | 4 minute read
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Updated January 28, 2025
All blogs are verified by Enrolled Agents and CPAs
Updated January 28, 2025
It’s 2025, and the IRS has just announced that e-filing is open for the 2024 tax season! With the ability to e-file, US citizens can submit their 2024 tax returns electronically, making tax filing that much easier. Start filing your taxes early to avoid stress from last-minute preparation.
When Does the IRS Open E-Filing in 2025?
It’s January, and the IRS has opened, meaning US expats can start e-filing their 2024 tax returns. This year, the official date is January 27th, 2025, as opposed to last year when e-filing opened on January 29th, 2024.
Can US Expats E-file Their 2024 Tax Return to the IRS?
Absolutely! The IRS and MyExpatTaxes highly recommend that US expats e-file their 2024 tax return, but only if they meet a certain tax threshold.
What are the US Expat Tax Deadlines for 2025?
Even if you’re filing your 2024 tax return early, it’s still best to know the US expat tax deadlines as a preventive measure. Here are the four main tax deadlines: April 15th, June 16th, October 15th, and December 15th.
April 15th is the deadline for paying owed taxes and the most commonly known US tax deadline. June 15th (June 16th in 2025) is the automatic extension deadline for US expats. October 15th is an additional extension granted when filing Form 4868 before June 15th and the official FBAR deadline for expats. Lastly, December 15th is the deadline for special tax cases.
Can US Expats E-file Their 2024 Tax Returns?
US expats are encouraged to e-file for various reasons, but only if they meet a certain threshold. For instance, if you’re a single filer under 65 earning more than $14,600, filing will be a requirement. Married expats under 65 filing together with an income that collectively exceeds $29,200 will also need to file.
There are many filing thresholds, so double-check which threshold is best suited to your tax situation!
IRS Tax Updates for US Expats in 2025
In 2025, there are minor inflation adjustments to be aware of. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion increased to $126,500, the Additional Child Tax Credit increased to $1,700, and all of the tax thresholds have increased except for self-employed individuals $400 and married filing separately $5.
Tax year 2024 may not face significant changes, but tax year 2025 could because the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is expiring. This could significantly impact the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for US expats, making double taxation ever more prominent. Stay informed about taxes by signing up for the MyExpatTaxes newsletters.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Filing taxes early can be beneficial if common errors do not complicate the process. Frequent mistakes such as entering the wrong Social Security Number or foreign income will result in a rejection or a need for an amendment. Ensure you double-check that all numbers you input are correct!
Expats should also be mindful of the FBAR and FATCA Form 8938, which are important for reporting foreign financial accounts and specific foreign assets like foreign stocks, bonds, or real estate held by a foreign corporation. These forms prevent tax evasion and ensure transparency, and if not reported, they can result in hefty fines. To counter this common mistake, choose US tax software like MyExpatTaxes, as it has all the necessary forms expats need!
Is E-filing Secure?
E-filing is the most efficient and secure method of filing US taxes. The IRS and many other tax software platforms shut down for maintenance, including security checks, system updates, and compliance reviews.
Although you can still mail your 2024 tax return, it’s not recommended, as international mailing can cause delays or lost returns. Make filing easier with MyExpatTaxes – the average user files in less than 30 minutes!
Tips for Filing Taxes Early
It’s never too early to start filing taxes, especially since the IRS has opened e-filing for the 2024 tax season. Here are three tips MyExpatTaxes gives to anyone filing US taxes abroad:
- Stay Organized: Keep records of your income, foreign financial accounts, and any foreign tax receipts. These records are important for determining your tax threshold, filing your FBARs, and claiming foreign tax deductions.
- Learn Foreign Tax Benefits: Familiarize yourself with the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, the Foreign Tax Credit, US tax treaties, and Totalization Agreements.
- Tax Software Designed for Expats: Pick an expat tax service like MyExpatTaxes the leading US expat tax software, to keep informed about handling foreign income, ensuring expats avoid double taxation!
What if You Need Help?
With the filing season being in January, you can avoid tight deadlines and unexpected filing delays by filing as soon as possible! If you can’t file earlier, file before June 15th or request an extension to October 15th.
You don’t need to start preparing every document to file. You can even start today by making a free account with MyExpatTaxes.
Written by Nathalie Goldstein, EA
Nathalie Goldstein, EA is a leading expert on US taxes for Americans living abroad and CEO and Co-Founder of MyExpatTaxes. She contributes to Forbes and has been featured in Forbes, CNBC and Yahoo Finance discussing US expat tax.
January 27, 2025 | Expat Tax Deadlines, Featured | 4 minute read
