lanny

When I was a sophomore in college, I had a philosophy professor who was rumored to be a defrocked baptist minister, kicked out because of his fondness for the ladies in his congregation.

One day, he was lecturing on the subject of ethics.  As a rhethorical question to the class, he asked:
" Why don't women like polygamy?"

From the back on the room, an anonymous girl piped up: "There's no adequate male!"

When the class turned back to the front of the room, we couldn't see the professor.  He was laughng so had that he was down on his hands and knees behind his rostrum.

If you were self-employed you would still owe social security taxes.  The foreign earned income exclusion only applies to income taxes, not to social security, self-employment taxes.

It is NOT true that you would not qualify if you went back to the US for more than 30 days.  The requirement is that you be outside the US for 335 days out of any 12 month period.  You can use two q month periods in any given year - one for the time before going to the US and one for the time after you return.  Since the exclusion is pro-rated on a daily basis, the amount of the exclusion would be less than the full $90,400 but should still cover a $12,000 income.

Did you file a return?  I would think so, otherwise how would IRS know about your income?  Did you include a Form 2555 in the return you filed?  The exclusion is not automatic, you must elect to claim it by filing the Form 2555.

To give you a definite answer, however, you would have to provide more information - what did you report and what did IRS say?

Fuji Xerox carries 81/2 x 11 paper but sells in in half-case boxes.  They deliver, too.

IRS regulations say that returns mailed before the due date will be considered timely if the envelope bears a legible, official postmark from a foreign postal service.  If the return is late, however, the actual date of receipt is used.  So, if you mail the return, be sure the postmark is readible.

Banks everywhere are the same - charging fees for all services, etc.

At my bank in America, I was charged $35 for a late payment fee on my credit card.  The minimum payment was $181 and I only paid $180!  When I complained about being charged $35 for a $1 shortage, they credited it back.  But, if I hadn't spoken up, the charge would have remained.