Yes—most US citizens living abroad are still required to file a US tax return, even if they don’t owe any taxes.
If you are a US citizen or green card holder living outside the United States, you generally must file a tax return if your income exceeds standard filing thresholds.
This includes freelancers, consultants, remote workers, and business owners earning income abroad.
You may still need to file a US return, but you can often reduce or eliminate your tax liability using provisions like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or the Foreign Tax Credit.
Failing to file can lead to penalties and complications, especially if you have foreign bank accounts or plan to return to the US in the future.
If you need to file, the next step is understanding how to reduce your tax bill and what additional reporting requirements apply.