Can you hide foreign accounts and overseas income from the IRS? According to tax attorney Asher Rubenstein, it's a riskier game than ever before. In a new article for 2010, On the IRS Radar: For Expat Americans Living and Working Abroad, Rubenstein describes seven powerful tools, most of them new, that give the U.S. government -- including the CIA! -- access to information about Americans' international assets.

What's new for the 2008 tax year? Higher exemptions and more audits for expats, among other changes. Richard J. Dunn gives us the updated story in US Taxes: New Information for 2008.

US Tax Filing requirements and rates differ depending on your employer, length of stay abroad, and other factors. See Filing from Frankfurt to Fiji: US Tax Preparation Abroad by Frederick McGough .

Filing your U.S. taxes as an expat can be confusing. Our Practical Planet section aims to help with its latest article, How Many Exemptions Are You Eligible For? (It might be more than you think) by Anne Alexander Sieder.

Tax Agencies:

IRS (Internal Revenue Service)

State Agencies (by State) (Including forms.)

Obtaining IRS Forms:

The IRS site had a search function for all its forms and publication. They can be downloaded in PDF format, readable with the free Acrobat Reader

Obtaining State Forms:

State Tax Forms Download tax forms by state.

Foreign Service Resources:

AFSA publishes an annual comprehensive tax guide in its Foreign Servcie Journal. Visit its site for information.

Tax Preparation:

TurboTax Do your federal and state taxes with Quicken TurboTax.

UDS ELECtroTAX INDIVIDUAL UDS ELECtroTAX INDIVIDUAL has FREE download and supports all individual federal tax forms/schedules accepted electronically (including MD). This program supports Windows 95, 98 & NT. It allows ACH debit payments and is also available for IRS e-file Customer Number (ECN) recipients. Separate 1040EZ, 1040A, and 1040Deluxe packages are available. E-filing is $6.95 for a single return ($12.95 for 1040Deluxe with MD).

TaxACT Download FREE software! Prepare complex returns (with in-depth interview and audit features) and e-file using TaxACT. Owe money? Use ACH Debit for balance due payments! TaxACT is also available for paperless filing for IRS E-file Customer Number (ECN) recipients. Prices for downloads are: Standard - FREE; Deluxe - $9.95 (CD - $17.90 w/ shipping/handling). E-filing is $7.95 per return. Printing is FREE.

Block Financial Corp. Do your taxes online at www.taxcut.com for only $9.95, including FREE electronic filing. (Pay nothing until you've finished your return.) If you qualify, use our 1040EZ Online program to prepare and e-file your return for FREE. Or download TaxCut software to your own PC for only $14.95. Do as many returns as you like and the first e-file is only $6.95.

H&R Block, Inc. Do your taxes online at www.hrblock.com. Secure and easy to use. Pay only when you are finished and satisfied. It's just $9.95, which includes e-filing and printing of your federal return. Your state return is just $4.95 and includes free e-filing. You can even get an electronic refund advance of up to $5,000, usually within two days (this is a loan; a fee applies). Our 1040EZ program is completely FREE.

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