Help! UK citizen who worked as US camp counselor in 2018 forgot to file tax return - will it affect my visa?

Having helped many international workers with tax issues, I can tell you this isn't as scary as it seems. The good news is that the amount you owe is relatively small, and the IRS is mainly concerned with collecting taxes rather than penalizing people, especially for modest amounts like yours. First, you'll need to file a late tax return using Form 1040NR (Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return) for 2018. Since it's been several years, you'll likely face some penalties and interest on the original amount, but it probably won't be substantial given the small initial tax liability. As for your travel concerns, tax issues and immigration are handled by different departments. Small tax debts generally don't trigger immigration alerts or ESTA issues. However, resolving this before your next visit is still the right move to avoid any potential complications.

I went through something similar last year with unfiled taxes from when I worked at a ski resort in Colorado back in 2019! I ended up using https://taxr.ai to help sort everything out. I initially tried figuring it out myself but got completely lost in all the international tax forms. The taxr.ai system let me upload my old pay documents and answered my specific questions about being a foreign worker who missed filing deadlines. It made the whole process so much easier by breaking down exactly what forms I needed and helping me understand the penalties. They even have specialists with experience in foreign worker tax situations who reviewed everything before submission. Definitely less stressful than trying to navigate the IRS website on my own!

Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai for my 2017 unfiled Disney J1 visa situation and it was actually super helpful! I was stressed about the whole process but their system guided me through exactly what to do with my specific visa type. They even had a section specifically addressing ESTA concerns for people in my situation. Turns out that paying the small amount I owed (plus the penalties) cleared everything up, and they provided documentation I can bring with me next time I travel just in case. The whole process took about a week, and I feel SO much better knowing this won't cause issues at the border. Definitely worth it for the peace of mind alone!

If you're still having trouble reaching the IRS to sort this out (which is likely given how backed up they are with international cases), you might want to try https://claimyr.com. I used them after spending literally WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS international taxpayer line. I had a similar situation with unfiled taxes from when I worked at a summer camp in Maine back in 2016, and I needed specific guidance on my case. The IRS international phone lines are notoriously impossible to get through - I tried for days! Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent was able to tell me exactly what I needed to do, what forms to file, and confirmed that my situation wouldn't affect future travel once resolved. Super helpful when you need answers directly from the source!

OK I need to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier. After spending THREE DAYS trying to reach someone at the IRS international taxpayer line and constantly getting the "call back later" message, I broke down and tried Claimyr out of desperation. It actually worked! Got a call back within about 45 minutes and was connected directly to an IRS agent who specialized in international tax issues. They answered all my questions about my unfiled return from when I taught English in the US on a temporary visa. The agent confirmed that small tax issues like this won't trigger immigration problems as long as you address them, and gave me direct instructions on exactly which forms to file. Much better than the generic advice I was finding online. Saved me hours of frustration!

I'm a dual citizen (UK/US) and had a similar issue a few years back. One thing to consider is that there's a statute of limitations on collecting taxes - generally 10 years from the date of assessment. Since you never filed, there's technically no assessment yet, so that clock hasn't started. The good news is that for such a small amount, this is very low priority for the IRS. That said, I'd still recommend filing the late return because: 1) It's the right thing to do 2) It prevents issues from compounding if you ever work in the US again 3) It gives you peace of mind for future travel You might even qualify for the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures which can sometimes waive penalties if you can show your failure to file wasn't willful.

Make sure you keep ALL your documentation showing that you filed and paid the late taxes! My Canadian friend had a similar situation, resolved it, but then got questioned at the border because the systems hadn't updated to show his tax compliance. Having physical copies of everything saved him a lot of hassle. Also consider printing out the relevant IRS regulations showing that small tax debts don't affect ESTA status - border agents sometimes aren't familiar with the specifics of tax-related entry issues.

Just want to add a quick point - make sure you file your state tax return too if you worked in a state that collects income tax! People often forget this part. The camp was probably in a specific state that might have its own filing requirements separate from the federal return.

I work for a tax resolution firm and deal with these situations regularly. The good news is that your case is very straightforward and won't impact your ability to travel on ESTA. For a $160 tax liability from 2018, you're looking at roughly $300-400 total after penalties and interest - still very manageable. The key is getting this resolved proactively rather than waiting for the IRS to come after you (which honestly might never happen for such a small amount). Here's what I'd recommend: File Form 1040NR for 2018 as soon as possible. You'll need your W-2 from the camp, so definitely contact them or CCUSA first. If you can't get it, request Form 4506-T from the IRS to get a wage transcript. Most importantly - small tax debts like this are NOT immigration issues. The State Department and IRS are completely separate systems. I've never seen anyone denied entry over a resolved tax matter of this size. Just make sure you have documentation showing you've addressed it when you travel. The depression and financial hardship you mentioned might even qualify you for some penalty relief if you can document those circumstances. The IRS has "reasonable cause" provisions that can reduce penalties in situations like yours.