When U.S. expat taxes feel like a test for a class you weren't in

“People talk about the IRS like it’s the boogey man who is out to get us to the point that filing taxes feels like those nightmares where you have to take a test for a class you weren't in.”

— Morgan, an American from Colorado who currently lives in the UK

Dear Congress,

I am an American living in the United Kingdom. It has been a nightmare trying to navigate the tax filing rules and obligations for Americans living abroad because U.S. expat taxes feel like a test for a class I never attended.

I met my husband in college, during his year abroad. After a six-year long-distance relationship I was able to move to England to be with him, and my life is here now. We bought a house and we have two cats; our friends and work and accounts are all in England.

Filing U.S. taxes in the United Kingdom

And yet I have the annual stress of having to file U.S. taxes, spending hours stressing that I'm going to miss something and be fined for more money than I have because the process is clear as mud.

People talk about the IRS like it’s the boogey man who is out to get us to the point that filing taxes feels like those nightmares where you have to take a test for a class you weren't in.

I have no plans to live in the United States again, but I want to keep citizenship for ease of seeing my family and in case plans change. However, I have seriously considered paying the exorbitant fee to revoke my U.S. citizenship just so that I don't have to deal with filing every year.

Why do Americans have to self-file taxes?

I have worked with people from numerous other countries who are flummoxed by Americans self-filing taxes in the first place, but especially expats with no financial ties to their home country.

Sincerely,

Morgan in the United Kingdom