Bank Draft in U.S. Dollars to pay U.S. Tax for 2017

[Dillpickles98]

Anyone know if it's possible to buy a bank draft in the U.S. Dollars. I want to send a check to the IRS for last years 1040-A filing along with the filing paperwork. If possible where can I purchase such? I can pay for it with BKK Bank accounts,  American ATM / Debit cards, or Visa Credit Card, from my U.S. bank.

 

Thanks Members

 

DP. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Any particular reason you wouldn't do a normal EFTPS online payment thru the official IRS route???

 

https://www.eftps.gov/eftps/direct/EftpsHome.page

[Dillpickles98]

Hi TallGuyJohninBKK Yeah, for one I can't get into my IRS account. Locked out, to have create a new account. Which won't accept my address, which is the same as was for the last 3 years. Just mailed a request for that transcript. I could get into EFTPS, but don't want to pay what I owe

 before they have my return.

 

In 2015 tried EFTPS when it came to the page of amount to be paid. As I scrolled down the page didn't see the box with the amount to be paid. It wasn't visible, then off the top of my screen. I paid $14,685.00 when I owned only $8.00 it was hassle getting that $$$ back, minus the $8.00 I owed. I had taxable investments then. 

 

Was using an agency in BKK to e-file, cost $350.00, However now my returns are simpler, tried Turbotax to e-file, some sort of conflict with my wife birth date. It was rejected by Turbotax. Called them, they said I would have to file by mail, if all info was correct. I now have all the completed paperwork, so I just want to include a check for what I owe along with the 1040-A form, and those associated with it.

 

The way I see it, I have three options. I do have the TurboTax form which contains all the info for a direct withdrawal from my U.S. savings account, I could send with the paperwork, or send a check directly from my bank. Or as I see it, the best option would be to include a bank draft with my filing by mail. Then the IRS would have everything at the same time. and I would know it. So if there is a problem they will write me back and I don't have wait for a 2016 transcript to be able to create a new IRS account. Enfact I wouldn't even need access to the IRS online. 

 

Hence the reason for my question, can I get a bank draft in U.S. dollars in Thailand and if so where? I live in Pattaya.

 

Thanks for you response?

 

DP.

 

 

[Langsuan Man]

15 hours ago, Dillpickles98 said:

Just mailed a request for that transcript. I could get into EFTPS, but don't want to pay what I owe

 before they have my return.

As I remember it, all I needed to get my EFTPS account back was to provide them with my last AGI as reflected on my previous years tax filing.  I went to all the trouble of requesting an abstract only to find that I had that AGI information all along  

[Dillpickles98]

Hi Langsuan Man, Once again stayed up to call TurboTax during the hours I can speak with a rep.. However, this time I got one who knew what she was doing. Initially they emailed, said I needed to fix my return concerning my Wife's date of birth as they had it on file. They never had it on file, this was the first time I used TurboTax. Tried 3-4 times of course I know it, but checked again. Every document she has, including tax records going back to 2007 were correct. Including her birth certificate, CA I.D.'s, passports, both current and expired, and her Thai I.D. Card.

 

The first rep. I spoke with would not, or could not tell what date they had on file. This new rep. however told me they had our birth dates reversed. She had no way of correcting it since I had tried three times, and my case was closed after phoning the first rep. I then asked would I have this same problem if I use TurboTax for filing 2018 Taxes. She said no, but I am trusting them again.

 

All the trouble I went through, to calling the IRS, requesting transcripts by mail, emailing Soc.Sec. in Manila, calling them. For a non-issue caused by TurboTax.

 

As for the purpose of  this thread, that too is solved, I can use the form from TurboTax to have the IRS debit my savings account, with the bank name, routing number, and account number.

 

So this thread is closed.

 

However for anyone following this thread, A bank draft in U.S. dollars can be bought at any U.S. bank branch in Thailand. If there is a Thai bank that offers this service it is advisable not to use it, as it will take time for it to clear, up to a month.

 

Thanks All

 

DP.     

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

58 minutes ago, Dillpickles98 said:

However for anyone following this thread, A bank draft in U.S. dollars can be bought at any U.S. bank branch in Thailand. If there is a Thai bank that offers this service it is advisable not to use it, as it will take time for it to clear, up to a month.

 

So which U.S. bank branch in Thailand are you suggesting someone might use?

 

[Dillpickles98]

Hi TallGuyJohninBKK, Bank of America,  Citibank Towers, or JP Morgan Chase, you can check goggle for the nearest to you. Though the most expensive for anything, I would recommend Bank of America. There is even a fee if you don't have account with them. I have had dealings with them as far back as the 80's. All bad, I would never use them, but in extreme cases the best bet. I once went to the states with American Express Travelers checks, they wanted 10% to cash them, because I was nearby. So I just took them back to my bank and got face value, no charge. 

 

DP.  

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

43 minutes ago, Dillpickles98 said:

Hi TallGuyJohninBKK, Bank of America,  Citibank Towers, or JP Morgan Chase, you can check goggle for the nearest to you. Though the most expensive for anything, I would recommend Bank of America. There is even a fee if you don't have account with them. I have had dealings with them as far back as the 80's. All bad, I would never use them, but in extreme cases the best bet. I once went to the states with American Express Travelers checks, they wanted 10% to cash them, because I was nearby. So I just took them back to my bank and got face value, no charge. 

 

DP.  

 

AFAIK, the sole BofA location in BKK does not provide any consumer banking services -- strictly a commercial banking operation.

 

And the Citibank operation here is a THAI bank, and as they'll tell you, a completely different entity from the U.S. Citibank operation,  although still part of the broader Citibank conglomerate. AFAIK, they don't do, with rare exception, anything different/special for Americans in BKK from what any other Thai bank would do.

 

 

[Dillpickles98]

Hi TallGuyJohninBKK, Sorry I was incorrect, I only posted what I read as per google, in my search. 

Now that my initial problem has solved itself. Thanks for that info. in the future I will continue as in the past, and let my U.S. bank send a check to any entity requiring a payment. 

 

DP. 

[Langsuan Man]

Well I give my two cents here.  I stopped using Turbo Tax a couple of years ago when they tried to be cute and make you upgrade just to be able to get certain schedules for stock transactions, they backed down after the uproar but they lost my business.  It also annoyed me, that even though I used them every year they could not remember my bonafides from year to year and they forgot how my pension was calculated, so I had to recalculate it each year 

 

The next year I tried Tax Act and they were even worse since they could not "poll" bank and brokerage accounts to get that information and made me do it manually.  I don't pay to have you make me work

 

Last year I used free tax filing software from Credit Karma ( https://www.creditkarma.com/tax) and yes they made me input my information but at least it was on an actual IRS 1040 form, with actual 1040 Schedules  and before I hit the "SEND" button I could see exactly what my tax form looked like, not some "extract" that Turbo Tax or Tax Act wanted me to see

[Dillpickles98]

Hi Langsuan Man, Thanks for your 2 cents. TurboTax was offered by my city federal credit union of which I am a retired city employee, which is why I tried them. I opted for the cheapest filing which was $19.99. However, I did have to complete some forms myself. The Health Insurance Exemption form was incorrect, the VA Health Insurance Exception was missing, the Interest Dividend form which the  identifies the institutions from which I received dividends was also missing. All of which I had from e-filing 2016 taxes. I just download the updated forms for 2017 and completed them. 2016 was done by e-filing by agency in Bangkok. They charged me $350.00.

 

Is Credit Karma one of those offered at the IRS website? I just checked, none of those indicate their cost. TurboTax was one of three offered for my income range. They all want you to complete a filing before they tell you what the fee is. May I ask the amount of their fee? Mine relatively simple, just my retirement income, Soc.Sec. which is non taxable, and bank interest paid to me.

 

After I had done the TurboTax e-filing they were unable to file it, because they had my wife's and my birth dates reversed, and couldn't correct it. Suggested I file by mail, nor were they able to refund my  $$$, they said due to the fact I had all their forms completed, except the ones that were incorrect, or missing. I figure $19.99 is a small price to pay, even if I had to do some paperwork myself. But will be looking for another business next year. 

 

I won't know until it's mailed, and the funds I owe are deducted from my bank account if there are any problems. In the meantime I am waiting for a 2016 transcript. I can't create a new IRS account because, they won't except my address, same as it was last year, and the year before, nor do I have a U.S. phone, which they say is optional anyway.

 

If you have been following closely, I mention used EFTPS in 2015, I paid $14,685 by mistake on my part, IRS didn't have any trouble sending that amount back to the same address.

 

Could be I am better off that TurboTax could not e-file, I wouldn't have known of the errors, or missing forms, compared to 2016 e-filing. 

 

Thanks for the info.

 

DP.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

LSM, I'm aware of the Turbo Tax buy up controversy you're referring to above, and I myself had an odd problem with them last year for the first time where their web version couldn't recognize my Thai wife as a non-resident alien as a married filing separate person on my tax return. Had to switch to their PC version in order to finally get their package to correctly recognize that (and thus see her as exempt for ACA purposes).

 

But more broadly, re your comments above, Turbo Tax of course does allow automated importing of brokerage and some bank data via their system. And, while you're initially working with their form of worksheets, in the end, you can see what their service produces in terms of actual IRS tax forms before you file anything, so you have the ability to check the end product work.

 

[ubonjoe]

A bank draft in US dollars can be obtained at a Thai bank.

Info here for Bangkok Bank: http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/CurrencyExchange/Pages/NotesDrafts.aspx

 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I think one of the potential problems with Turbo Tax and other similar services, depending on the complexity of one's tax return, is they're not really geared toward Americans living abroad. Or at least, not for all the potential tax implications that can arise from that status. They're primarily geared toward the normal U.S. folks living in the normal U.S.  And as I discovered last year, there are capability differences between the TT online version and the more detailed TT PC version.

 

[Dillpickles98]

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A bank draft in US dollars can be obtained at a Thai bank.

Info here for Bangkok Bank: http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/CurrencyExchange/Pages/NotesDrafts.aspx

 

I also have BKK Bank accounts, yes it is possible, but I read there could be a delay of up to a month before it clears.

[Langsuan Man]

13 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

you can see what their service produces in terms of actual IRS tax forms before you file anything, so you have the ability to check the end product work.

 

Yes,  but unfortunately you cannot change it on the form, you have to go back in the program to where the mistake was made and correct it there, which is many times not that obvious 

 

CreditKarma let's you make the correction on the actual IRS 1040 Form