If you’re a U.S. citizen or resident alien originally from Seattle or Bellevue, Washington, and are now living abroad—such as in Mexico, Portugal, Costa Rica, Spain, Thailand, Italy, Panama, Vietnam, Colombia, France —here are the key U.S. federal tax deadlines for the 2024 tax year (filed in 2025):

U.S. Federal Tax Deadlines for Americans Living Abroad

  1. April 15, 2025 – Tax Payment Deadline

    • This is the standard deadline to pay any taxes owed.

    • Even if you’re living abroad, interest starts accruing on unpaid taxes after this date, regardless of filing extensions.

  2. June 16, 2025 – Automatic Filing Extension

    • As an American living outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, you receive an automatic two-month extension to file your federal tax return.

    • No formal request is needed, but you must attach a statement to your return explaining your foreign residence on the original due date. irs.gov

  3. October 15, 2025 – Extended Filing Deadline

    • If you need more time, file Form 4868 by June 16 to request an additional four-month extension.

    • This extension is for filing only; any taxes owed were still due by April 15.

  4. December 15, 2025 – Final Filing Deadline (by Request)

    • In exceptional cases, you can request a discretionary two-month extension by sending a letter to the IRS explaining why you need more time.

    • This request must be made before October 15 expressnews.com

Additional Considerations

  • FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): If you had over $10,000 in foreign financial accounts at any time during 2024, you must file an FBAR by April 15, 2025. There’s an automatic extension to October 15, 2025. hrblock.com

  • Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): For the 2024 tax year, you can exclude up to $126,500 of foreign earned income if you meet certain requirements. This amount increases to $130,000 for the 2025 tax year. investopedia.com

  • State Taxes: Washington State does not have a state income tax, so you typically don’t need to file a state return when living abroad.

If you need assistance finding a tax advisor familiar with U.S. and Portuguese tax laws, feel free to ask!

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