How do HMRC know I've worked abroad if I have dual citizenship?

Irmo

Hi

I'm a USA/UK dual citizen and moved to the USA in 08 and worked for a few months using my American SS and passport but am now thinking of returning to the UK. The unfortunate thing is I've only recently submitted my p85 but have since realised I may have to return to the UK. I left my British bank accounts open when I left the UK registered at a family members address.

So unless I explicitly tell them when/if I return to the UK in the summer on my British passport, how can HMRC know that I worked for a couple of months part time (earning next to nothing)?

Irmo

lol, hardly - not with the pitiful amount I earnt in the UK (Less than 6000 in the UK 07/08) and the exchange rate of maybe 3500GBP in the US (which I have paid USA taxes on including SS of which is absolutely no benefit to me).

The complicated thing is the tax issues - as an American I am *meant* to file taxes with the USA embassy in the UK *every* year for the rest of my life, whether or not I ever even return to the USA. Despite it being "illegal" not to - I can hardly seeing myself doing that for the next xx years (I'm not even 30) unless I suddenly land a job where I'm earning the mega bucks and never filed a tax return in the USA prior to living here. I don't want to defraud the governments of any money owing to them - but I do not want to be filing tax returns for the rest of my life!

inmypocketnottheirs

Irmo wrote: »

I don't want to defraud the governments of any money owing to them - but I do not want to be filing tax returns for the rest of my life!

That's the benefit of being an American!

BruceyBonus

Irmo wrote: »

The complicated thing is the tax issues - as an American I am *meant* to file taxes with the USA embassy in the UK *every* year for the rest of my life, whether or not I ever even return to the USA. Despite it being "illegal" not to - I can hardly seeing myself doing that for the next xx years (I'm not even 30) unless I suddenly land a job where I'm earning the mega bucks and never filed a tax return in the USA prior to living here. I don't want to defraud the governments of any money owing to them - but I do not want to be filing tax returns for the rest of my life!

If you feel that strongly, then you could always give up your American citizenship

Cook_County

The penalties for failing to file annual US tax returns and TDF 90-22.1s reporting bank/security accounts are not worth considering.

If you are compliant in the US you can of course renounce US citizenship.