Life abroad brings with it lots of exciting milestones like meeting people, learning about a new culture and picking up language skills.
Unfortunately, there's also paperwork. Whether that's registering your apartment or keeping on top of taxes, internationals abroad have to be mindful of many administration tasks.
For Americans, there’s an additional obligation: filing taxes back home. US citizens generally have to file a tax return each year regardless of where they live.
Here’s a look at the key tax deadlines in Austria and the US for the 2025 tax year.
American dates to know in 2026:
- US standard tax deadline and deadline for paying any owed taxes: April 15th
- Automatic extended deadline for Americans filing from abroad: June 15th
- Extended filing deadline if you request an extension (Form 4868) and FBAR deadline: October 15th.
Note that the extension applies to filing paperwork only. Any taxes owed are still due on April 15th. Americans abroad are required to file a tax return (Form 1040), even if they owe no US tax.
Austrian dates to know in 2026:
In Austria, many employees do not need to file a tax return at all because taxes are deducted automatically (although they may choose to).
However, filing becomes mandatory in certain situations, for example if you have multiple employers, freelance income or claim certain deductions.
If you do need to file, the standard deadlines are:
- Paper filing deadline: April 30th
- Online filing deadline through FinanzOnline: June 30th
In practice, most people file electronically through FinanzOnline. Paper returns are generally accepted only if online filing is not possible.
If you work with a tax adviser, your deadlines may be longer thanks to Austria’s quota system. If you need extra time, you can request an extension directly in FinanzOnline.
READ ALSO: Everything you need to know about filing taxes in Austria
When do I have to submit my tax return?
The US and Austria have a tax treaty designed to prevent double taxation, though Americans still need to file in both countries.
In many cases, Americans living in Austria are advised to file their Austrian taxes before doing their US return.
This is particularly important if you intend to use the Foreign Tax Credit, which can help avoid double taxation on income already taxed in Austria.
Of course, gathering documents can take time – especially if you have multiple income sources or need to request missing paperwork – so starting early is advisable.
If you file your Austrian return by the standard June 30th deadline, you will already have passed the US filing deadline for Americans abroad, which falls on June 15th.
If completing both returns by June 15th isn’t possible, you can request a US filing extension to October 15th by submitting Form 4868.
What else Americans abroad should know
In addition to the Foreign Tax Credit mentioned above, Americans living overseas, including in Austria – with an income lower than $130,000 in 2025 – are eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This means a portion of their foreign income can be excluded from US taxation.
In addition to filing an income tax return, Americans abroad may also need to report foreign bank accounts.
For example, the FBAR filing requirement applies if the combined balance of your foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year. This report is filed separately from your tax return.
Some taxpayers may also need to file more forms under FATCA if their foreign assets rise above certain thresholds.
For more complex cases, speak to a tax advisor.
READ ALSO: Essential tax deadlines to know in Austria
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