When is my US tax return due if I live abroad?

Americans abroad generally get an automatic two-month extension, moving the usual mid-April deadline to around June 15, and can extend further to around October 15 by filing Form 4868. Exact dates shift each year, so confirm the current-year deadline.

Does the extension mean I have more time to pay?

Generally no. The automatic extension and Form 4868 extend the time to file, but interest on unpaid tax typically accrues from the original spring (April) deadline. Paying an estimate by April can reduce interest even if you file later.

When is the FBAR due?

The FBAR is due with the spring tax deadline but is automatically extended to around October 15, with no separate form required. As with the return, the exact date can shift slightly year to year.

US Expat Tax Deadlines: June 15, October 15 & FBAR

The automatic two-month extension for Americans abroad, how to push to October, when the FBAR is due, and why interest can still accrue from April.

Americans abroad follow the same U.S. tax year as everyone else, but they get some extra time to file. The catch is that more time to file is not always more time to pay — interest can still run from the spring deadline even when filing is extended.

The automatic two-month extension

If your tax home and abode are outside the U.S., you generally get an automatic two-month extension to file, pushing the usual mid-April deadline to around June 15 (the exact date shifts with weekends and holidays each year). You typically attach a statement noting you qualify; no separate request is required for this part.

The automatic extension extends the time to file, not necessarily the time to pay. Interest generally accrues on any unpaid tax from the original spring (April) deadline, even though your filing date is later.

Pushing to October, and the FBAR

If you need more time, filing Form 4868 generally extends the deadline to around October 15. Separately, the FBAR (FinCEN 114) is due with the spring deadline but is automatically extended to around October 15 with no form to file. A further short extension beyond October may be available in limited cases.

Key dates at a glance

Exact dates move year to year with weekends and holidays — treat these as the current-year deadline rather than fixed:

Approximate date	What's due	Notes
Mid-April (current-year deadline)	Original filing & payment deadline	Interest on unpaid tax generally starts here
~June 15	Filed return (automatic 2-month expat extension)	Filing extension only; payment was due in April
~October 15	Extended return via Form 4868	Request the extension by the spring deadline
~October 15	FBAR (FinCEN 114)	Automatically extended; no form needed

Because the precise dates shift each year, confirm the current-year deadline rather than relying on a fixed day — and remember the payment clock and the filing clock can run differently.

Want to know which deadline actually applies to you?

The free Tax Risk Check helps you think through filing versus payment timing and the FBAR. Atamatax provides preparation support; this is not individualized tax or legal advice.

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Atamatax provides tax preparation support and educational resources. This website does not constitute legal or tax advice.

US Expat Tax Deadlines: June 15, October 15 & FBAR

The automatic two-month extension

Pushing to October, and the FBAR

Key dates at a glance

Want to know which deadline actually applies to you?

Frequently asked questions

Start your free U.S. tax risk check.