Im 18 and have never lived in America, but I am an American citizen due to my dad being American. Do I have to pay US taxes if I work even though I have always lived in germany? Obviously I'll have to pay german income tax, but what about US taxes?
Posted by EmilyTheSimp2002
5 Comments
If you have to ask this question, you likely don’t make enough money to have to worry about it. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) for 2025 is $130,000.
As a side note, I hear that Germany underpays people compared to America.
You are supposed to file a US tax return, but there’s a substantial income exclusion (130K USD) so you don’t actually owe any taxes until you earn over that amount.
Unless you or your father have actually done the paperwork to become a US citizen, then you are not a US citizen. You have the right to be a US citizen but it is not automatically granted without some paperwork.
If you are an actual citizen, then the other stuff people have mentioned applies since the USA taxes worldwide income not just US-derived income.
Being a nonresident for tax purposes is only applicable to foreigners not American citizens.
Just a question, since you’re 18 years old now and never lived in US and have dual citizenship, do you have to confirm wanting to continue with your US citizenship? And how does it work with German regulations re dual citizenship. I think you should find out