Help with your return, one answer at a time.
Find the right guide or page for coverage, records, saving progress, editing answers, currency, and review, signing and filing.
Help for eligible 2025 federal individual returns
What do you need help with?
Type a few words to narrow the topics. Every word you enter must match.
8 of 8 topics shown
Check whether your return fits
See the supported income types and situations before you start.
Check coverage FORMSFind a particular form
Search the form directory and read the limits. Some forms cover only specific cases.
Search supported forms RECORDSGet your records together
Income and foreign tax records, dates abroad, and documents for any business or investment income.
Open the checklist SAVINGSave progress and return later
Your answers save as you work, including where you were in the questions.
Understand saved progress EDITINGChange an answer
Go back from the answer summary, correct it, and build a new preview.
How to correct an answer CURRENCYAmounts in other currencies
Which amounts the interview converts for you, and which to enter in US dollars.
Read currency guidance REVIEWReview, pay, sign and file
The on-screen review, payment, the prepared PDF and the signing steps before we e-file your return.
Review and signing CONTACTAsk a product question
Describe the page, message or feature. Leave out tax identifiers and documents.
Contact usThree steps to start well.
- 1
Check your return fits
Read which income types and situations the software supports.
Who it is for - 2
Gather your records
Work through the preparation checklist before you answer questions.
Preparation checklist - 3
See the preparation steps
Follow the path from your answers to the prepared return you review.
How it works
Your answers save as you go.
The interview saves your answers while you work, including your place in the questions, so you can continue from where you stopped when you reopen your return. Watch the save message in the workspace.
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Saving | A save is in progress. | Wait for the confirmation before you leave the page. |
| Saved | The software has received confirmation that your answers saved. | Your answers and your place in the questions are saved. |
| Not saved yet. Your answers are still on this page. | Your latest changes have not saved. | Keep the page open, check your connection and wait for “Saved”. |
Amounts paid in other currencies.
The IRS requires amounts reported on a US return to be expressed in US dollars. The interview handles this in two ways, depending on the amount.
- Converted for you. Some amounts, for example certain medical, care and education costs paid abroad, can be entered in the currency you paid. The software converts them at the IRS yearly average exchange rate for the tax year. If that table has no rate for your currency, it tells you so.
- Entered in US dollars. Other amounts must be entered in US dollars. Foreign account and asset values for Form 8938 are given in dollars converted at the Treasury rate for the last day of the year.
The page says my answers are not saved yet. What should I do?
Keep the page open and check your internet connection. Changes that have not saved are still on that page; refreshing or closing it can lose them. Wait for “Saved” before leaving.
The software retries some connection errors, but a retry is not confirmation that your answers reached the saved return. If the message persists, email us describing the message and what you were doing, without including answers or tax records.
Why does it say changes were saved elsewhere?
The preparation workspace found a newer saved version, for example after edits in another open tab. It updates the page and shows a notice. Check the answers now shown before continuing, use one tab for further edits and wait for the save confirmation. Do not assume an earlier preview includes those changes.
How do I correct an answer I have already entered?
The answer summary groups your responses by section. Choose Edit beside the answer to go back to its question, correct it, and wait for it to save.
An edited return needs a new preview. Read the new PDF and complete new filing authorizations for that version: the earlier review and signatures do not cover the changed return. See the answer and review steps.
What does “This preview is older than your answers” mean?
Something changed after the PDF preview was built, so the PDF reflects earlier answers and is no longer the version to review or authorize. Choose Build a new preview and read the updated forms before signing. A prepared PDF or a completed signing step does not mean the return has been sent to or accepted by the IRS; the app shows when the IRS accepts or rejects your return.
Why can’t I continue to the next step?
Look for the marked question or message explaining what needs attention. The interview checks required answers and supported situations before preparation continues. Complete or correct the requested information and check the section again.
If your actual situation is outside coverage, changing an accurate answer to pass a check is not the solution. Read the coverage limits to find out whether the software fits your return.
Why was my name not accepted when I signed up?
Type your legal name the way your Social Security card or ITIN letter shows it, using the letters A to Z. The IRS e-file system cannot accept a letter with an accent, a letter from another alphabet, a number or a symbol such as an ampersand in a name, so the name step tells you in a plain sentence and changes nothing.
You can use hyphens, spaces and apostrophes; the e-filed return leaves out an apostrophe, as the IRS e-file rules require (O'Shea is filed as OSHEA). We keep your name exactly as you type it and never change or convert it to other letters for you.
Why am I asked to accept the terms of service again?
When our terms of service change, you read and accept the current version before you start, buy, sign or file, including the first time you open or download a paper package. Nothing you entered is changed; once you accept, you carry on where you were.
How do I ask for a refund?
Before we transmit your return, or before you first open or download a paper package, choose Request a refund on the order in your account, or email us from the address on your account. An FBAR stays refundable until we file it with FinCEN.
Read the refund rules, including Streamlined packages and the exceptions after your return is sent.
Does uploading a document complete the questions for me?
No. In the preparation workspace, the document stage accepts PDF, PNG and JPEG files. Extracted values are suggestions to review and confirm, and the relevant interview questions still need completing.
This public website has no document uploader. Do not email tax documents or personal tax identifiers to the product contact address.
Where to go from here.
Email a product question
Write to contact@expatreturn.us describing the page, message or feature. Leave out tax identifiers and documents.
Contact details FILINGSee how filing works
Review your return on screen, pay, open the PDF, sign with your PIN, and we e-file it with the IRS.
Pay, sign and file FAQRead the full FAQ
Every common question and answer about filing with ExpatReturn.us in one place.
All questionsHelp on this site is informational. There is no live chat or ticket submission, and no response time is promised.
Official source
Last reviewed 22 October 2026
Know your return fits, then prepare.
Start with the coverage page to see whether the software suits your situation.
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