Rubenacker and Company

Expats may be allowed an automatic 2-month extension of time to file your return and pay any federal income tax that is due. You will be allowed the extension if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien and on the regular due date of your return:
•    You are living outside of the United States and Puerto Rico and your main place of business or post of duty is outside the United  States and Puerto Rico, or
•    You are in military or naval service on duty outside the United States and Puerto Rico
If you use a calendar year, the regular due date of your return is April 15, and the automatic extended due date would be June 15. If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the due date is delayed until the next business day.

Even if you are allowed an extension, you will have to pay interest on any tax not paid by the regular due date of your return.

Giving up your U.S. citizenship may mean you’ll be paying an Expatriation Tax.

If you expatriated after June 16, 2008, the new IRC 877A expatriation rules apply to you if any of the following statements apply.
• Your average annual net income tax for the 5 years ending before the date of expatriation or termination of residency is more than a specified amount that is adjusted for inflation ($147,000 for 2011, $151,000 for 2012, $155,000 for 2013 and $157,000 for 2014).
• Your net worth is $2 million or more on the date of your expatriation or termination of residency.
• You fail to certify on Form 8854 that you have complied with all U.S. federal tax obligations for the 5 years preceding the date of your expatriation or termination of residency.
If any of these rules apply, you are a “covered expatriate.”
Read more: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Expatriation-Tax

There is more to it than tax rate percentages, 68 nations worldwide have income tax treaties with the U.S. As an expatriate it is important to be aware of the option available to you under these treaties. Residents (not necessarily citizens) of foreign countries are taxed at a reduced rate, or are exempt from U.S. taxes on certain items of income they receive from sources within the United States. These reduced rates and exemptions vary among countries and specific items of income. Under these same treaties, residents or citizens of the United States are taxed at a reduced rate, or are exempt from foreign taxes, on certain items of income they receive from sources within foreign countries. Most income tax treaties contain what is known as a “saving clause” which prevents a citizen or resident of the United States from using the provisions of a tax treaty in order to avoid taxation of U.S. source income.
Read more at the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/Businesses/International-Businesses/United-States-Income-Tax-Treaties—A-to-Z  Here you can find copies of the treaty agreements, as well.