Do I need to pay US taxes while working in Saudi Arabia with dual citizenship?

Thanks for the helpful info! How do I actually go about filing these forms from Saudi Arabia? And what happens if I haven't filed in previous years? I've only been working for a few months but I've been living here for a couple years already...

You can file US tax returns electronically from anywhere in the world using tax preparation software or through a tax professional who specializes in expat taxes. Many accountants can handle your taxes remotely. If you haven't filed in previous years, you should consider getting compliant as soon as possible. The IRS has programs like the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures designed specifically for Americans abroad who didn't know they needed to file. It allows you to catch up on filing requirements without most penalties. Generally, you'll need to file the last 3 years of tax returns and 6 years of FBARs if applicable.

Does this service help with FBAR filings too? I always struggle with reporting my foreign accounts correctly and get paranoid about those huge penalties they threaten.

How do they handle tax treaty benefits? Saudi Arabia doesn't have a tax treaty with the US, but I do have investments in countries that do have treaties, and figuring out how to claim those benefits correctly is a nightmare.

Yes, they absolutely help with FBAR filings - that was actually one of the main reasons I used them. They have a guided system that walks you through exactly which accounts need to be reported and how to report them correctly to avoid any penalties. For tax treaty benefits, they're really good with that too. Their system can identify which of your investments qualify for specific treaty benefits and guide you through claiming them properly. They have country-specific guidance that accounts for the different tax treaties (or lack thereof) and help you navigate the complexities of each situation.

Wait, how does this even work? The IRS phone system is notorious for long waits. Are you saying this service somehow jumps the queue or something?

This sounds like BS honestly. Nothing can get you through to the IRS faster - they're understaffed and overworked. I doubt this service does anything you couldn't do yourself by just calling and waiting.

It doesn't jump the queue exactly - what it does is automate the waiting process for you. Instead of you personally sitting on hold for hours, their system waits in the queue and then calls you once they get a human on the line. I was skeptical too at first, but it actually works. The IRS wait times for international tax issues were averaging 2-3 hours when I tried calling, and I kept getting disconnected after 45+ minutes of waiting. With this service, I just entered my number, they waited in line, and then called me when they had an agent. Saved me hours of frustration, especially with the time zone differences making it hard to call during US business hours.

Omg I had no idea about this! None of my Saudi bank accounts were opened with my US passport - I used my Saudi ID for everything. Does that mean I'm in trouble with the IRS now??

You're not automatically in trouble, but you do need to report these accounts on your US tax returns regardless of which passport/ID you used to open them. The requirement is based on your status as a US citizen, not how you opened the accounts. The good news is that the IRS has procedures for people who weren't aware of these requirements. As another commenter mentioned, look into the Streamlined Filing Procedures, which are designed for people who didn't know about their filing obligations. The key is to get compliant now rather than waiting. If you voluntarily disclose before the IRS contacts you, penalties are usually reduced or eliminated.

Saudi doesn't have personal income tax for Saudi nationals, which is a huge advantage in this situation. The OP would still need to file US taxes but would likely owe nothing if their income is under the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion limit, which is around $126,500 for 2025.