Internal Revenue Service United States Department of the Treasury
Level Basic Advanced Military International

Other Income Workout

Reporting Other Income

Case Study 1: Reporting Other Income

Look at the sample interview for taxpayers Hudson and Hope Howard.

Sample Interview
Volunteer Says…   Hope Says…
 
  Will we be able to exclude any of my income on our tax return? I worked for Bavaria Advertising in Munich this past year and made $24,000 in U.S. dollars. I heard that you don't have to pay taxes on income earned in a foreign country and I've never done this before.
 
That is possible. First, we will have to determine if you meet the requirements. Were you working as a military or civilian employee of the U.S. government? No, Bavaria Advertising is a foreign company owned by a family right there in Munich.
 
Great, that would qualify, but Hudson's military pay won't. Let's see. You are a U.S. Citizen. You earned wages in a foreign country, and the total was less than the maximum amount. You have no self-employment income or business/moving expenses, and since you lived on base, you won't have a foreign housing exclusion. Yeah, that all sounds right.
 
Now we have to determine if you meet the bona fide residence or physical presence test and if your tax home is in a foreign country. It sounds complicated to me.
 
Don't worry, I just need to ask you a few questions. How long did you say you were in Germany? We moved on base in Germany on March 3, 2013, and just returned to the states on January 10 this year.
 
No problem then. You were living in Germany for the entire year so you are considered a bona fide resident this tax year. Since your home and place of employment were both in Germany, you meet the tax home test. Now, what was your address while you were living in Germany? 1567 Albion Street, Munich.
 
What did you do for Bavaria Advertising? I was a copywriter.
 
Do you have Bavaria Advertising's address? I sure do; it is right here on this statement.
 
Were you present in the U.S. during this tax year? I have to enter the dates on this form. Not this year. But we did come home for the holidays last year.