American Pacific Tax Limited is a leading accounting firm in Hong Kong specializing in filing US taxation for clients. One common question we frequently receive is: Do I need to file a US tax return? If you are a US citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income tax returns are generally the same whether you are in the United States or abroad. If you live outside the United States and you earn wages, you generally will still need to file a tax return. The deadline for filing US tax returns remains the same – April 15th, but the IRS allows an automatic 2 month extension if you are a US citizen and you are living outside the United States. Please keep in mind that you will still need to pay any taxes due by April 15th or interest will start to be calculated on the amount you owe until you file and pay your taxes. Filing tax returns also allows taxpayers to claim exclusions and tax credits. If a US citizen does not file their tax return, they may miss out on valuable credits and exclusions. Even worse, if you fail to file, you may be liable for penalties and interest payments which continuously accrue. For tax year 2012, the allowable exclusion is $95,100 USD. We specialize in serving clients in Hong Kong, China, and Macau. Find out more about the type of services we offer by contacting us today and find the right CPA who can help you.