Advice for US Tax Liab

[htwelei]

we just extended the US tax return. started doing the return using turbo tax, but found it so complicated. this is our first year in the UK. Any recommendation on a good US tax specialyst in Kent, or any advice at all would be a great help?
Thanks in advance.

[Bevdeforges]

If this is your first year overseas, Turbo Tax (or any of the commercial software packages for home use) may not be the way to go. Traditionally they aren't really set up to handle overseas returns, especially in the first year (where you have a split situation - part year as a US resident, and part-year overseas).

Normally, what I do is to deal first with form 2555 (the overseas earned income exclusion) for earned income. (Even better if you can use that 2555-EZ form.) That gives you how to report your salary income and has the instructions for partitioning it between your US residency and your foreign residency. Most other types of income you may have then go on to the return pretty much like they always did.

The tough part comes if you claim the foreign income tax credit because that will almost automatically subject you to the AMT calculation, which does get tricky for a split year.
Cheers,
Bev