Taxes
- U.S. citizens file U.S. taxes wherever they live.
- The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion doesn't cover pensions, annuities or Social Security.
- VA disability compensation isn't taxable by the U.S. How your host country treats it depends on the tax treaty.
- Military retired pay is taxable by the U.S.; treaty treatment abroad varies. Talk to an expat tax professional.
Voting
Send a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every calendar year and after each move. FVAP.gov walks you through it.
Stay connected
- Enroll in the State Department's STEP program for embassy alerts.
- Keep a U.S. phone number for VA, bank and login verification codes.
- Store your DD-214, VA award letters and FMP letter securely online.
Get answers from vets who've done it
The VA Benefits Abroad channel is free. Ask about your country, your claim or your hospital.
A tax calendar for veterans abroad
| April 15 | Regular U.S. due date. Any tax you owe is still due on this date, so interest can apply after it. |
|---|---|
| June 15 | The IRS gives an automatic 2-month extension to file if you live abroad and meet its conditions. |
| FBAR | If your foreign accounts together topped $10,000 at any point in the year, you generally must file an FBAR electronically with FinCEN. It's separate from your tax return. |
| Form 8938 | A separate IRS form for specified foreign financial assets, with its own thresholds. |
If you pay income tax to your new country, ask a tax professional about the foreign tax credit. The IRS notes you only get these benefits by filing a U.S. return.
Voting from abroad, step by step
- Send a new Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) every January and each time you move. It registers you and requests absentee ballots for federal elections that year.
- Watch for your ballot. Many states can send it electronically. Check your state's rules on FVAP.gov.
- Use the backup if it's late. The Federal Write-In Absentee Ballot (FWAB) is an emergency backup if your state ballot doesn't arrive in time. You must already be registered and have requested a state ballot.
- If both arrive, fill out and return your state ballot too. Only one is counted.
Common mistakes
- Skipping a return because most of your income is VA compensation, which isn't taxable. Other income may still require a filing.
- Forgetting foreign bank accounts. The FBAR is easy to miss.
- Claiming the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion on pensions or Social Security. It doesn't apply.
- Sending one FPCA and never again.
Documents to keep
- Copies of your U.S. returns and FBAR confirmations
- Foreign tax receipts or assessments
- Your FPCA confirmation and election office contact
- Year-end statements for every foreign account
Members swap names of expat tax preparers who understand military retired pay. Join the free OCONUS Veterans community to ask.
How this helps in real life
Example scenario (composite, not a real person): A retired veteran in Panama gets VA compensation, retired pay and Social Security, and keeps a local bank account for rent. Each January he sends a new FPCA. Each spring he gives his preparer his DFAS and SSA tax forms plus his Panamanian account's year-end balance, so the FBAR question gets answered every year instead of forgotten.
Questions about your situation?
Ask in the VA Benefits Abroad channel. Vets who've filed from your country answer fast.
Last reviewed November 2026. Information only. Confirm with the official sources.
