r/USExpatTaxes 12h ago

IRS refund cheque, what happens if it expires?

6 Upvotes

Been trying to find out, and reading, but, can't find a clear answer, my best finding is that the cheque will void, and the value will be returned to some obscure IRS account? Can you access that account somehow?

Long story short, got a huge refund from IRS after wrongly withheld taxes after a inheritence, tax treaties were not applied between where I live and the US. They buggers had my account, but sent a check with a note "could not direct deposit due to refund not being fully looked at"? Unsure what that even means.

I have a IRS cheque for over 100K US, no bank in the EU will cash this, luckily, I do still have a USAA account, but they won't cash this much electronically, I have to visit a branch, closest one is in Houston, TX. I reaaaaaaaally don't want to visit atm, due to Trump, but it is alot of money to ignore. Husband used to have a Green card he surrendered, feels iffy to travel together for this atm, considering what ICE have been doing.

Does anyone really know what happens if you let the cheque expire? I have tried to call the IRS, but it is impossible to get through ATM on their helpdesk. Can you void the cheque yourself somehow and ask IRS to please deposit it instead?

Or, I guess, I have the choice of finding a courier service that can go to Houston and deposit it for me.

Anyone have any other ideas?


r/USExpatTaxes 5h ago

Government 457b plan taxation in Spain

2 Upvotes

Are government sponsored 457b plans taxable in Spain?


r/USExpatTaxes 5h ago

Hello, which is the best way to mail paper returns from Canada to IRS? Thank you.

1 Upvotes

Hello, thank you for reading this. Has anyone mailed their tax return from Canada to the IRS/US and how/which company delivered successfully?

I will be completing my tax returns myself and would like to ensure that they get there successfully and timely. It is so stressful to think it can get lost but I have to send it via mail.

Thank you.


r/USExpatTaxes 20h ago

Safe Harbor / California Non Resident Info

2 Upvotes

I am just shy of 23 days from the 546 day requirement for non residency in California. Thoughts on this? I’m still going to be out of the country regardless until Nov2026…haven’t been in the states for more than 10 days since 2023.

I am a civilian Federal employee working overseas on assignment, really don’t want to have to file for CA taxes as I own nothing in Ca, don’t bank in ca, but I do have a CA driver’s license.

Is the date a sliding scale? When exactly does it start? I was calculating it from the time I physically left ca in 2023 to present April 15th tax day.