Form 2555 and other things

[Karen Lee]

OMG!!!I have never completed a Form 2555 nor researched all it entails however this guy comes in and wants to know what I know about Foreign Earned Income and "Sailors Tax" and Farm Taxes. OK, got the Farm thing, been doing 'em for years, know where to get the info on the Foreign Earned Income but the Sailors Tax has me stumped. What I have sorted out is the Sailors tax is like a per diem deduction for Merchant Marines which has different rules. The only thing I can find is the different per diem rates for OCONUS travel vs. CONUS travel.

Now is the time for me to get this research behind me so when he comes in during the Spring I'll be so full of information and knowledge that I can knock it right out but I need clarification on this Sailor's tax thing. Am I on the right track or is there something waaaaaay special?

Thanks for your opinions

Karen

[greggea]

On the Sailor's Tax, there is a 2004 court decision that you might want to check for applicability, United States of America v. Douglas Paul Boudreaux. It was in US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Hope it helps.

Gregg

[Karen Lee]

Thanks Gregg...I looked it up. Not the first time someone has tried to do this to me. Makes me wonder about the rest of his stuff. I was reluctant to take him on anyway and this just clinches it. Guess I won't do the research on Foreign Earned Income either. Really appreciate it.

Karen