As a first year JET, you will be unable to file your taxes on April 15, like most people can. In order for foreign earned income to be tax free, you need to be absent from the U.S. for a year (a calendar year starting anytime, not a tax year). It's not enough to tell the IRS that you plan to be absent from the U.S. for a year when you file. Instead, you must have been absent for a full year at the time you file. So you will fill out the forms from this guide, and then not submit them until August, except for the extension which you should do now. This is a very important point that could cost you money if you aren't careful.

This means you must file for an extension so you can file your taxes after you have been absent for a whole year. After your first year as a JET, you don't have to do this, since you'll already have been gone for a full year. Keep in mind, though, that even though you'll file your taxes in August, you have to pay any money you owe on your taxes before April 15.

Document: Form 2350, Application for Extension of Time to File U.S. Tax Return for Citizens Abroad

Fill-in PDF Document: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-fill/f2350.pdf

IRS Instructions: (included with the above PDF)

JET Instructions: 2350 Instructions

On to form 2555-EZ

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