I have never lived in the US, but was born there.
Now I'm trying to move there with my husband and daughter (sponsoring them) and I realized that I have to file US taxes.

I downloaded form 2555 and 1040.
I filled out 2555, no problem.

Then I moved on to 1040. If I understand 2555 correctly I just have to fill out my income from there on to line 21 on the 1040 form.

I still have the same number on line 37, which is then my "adjusted gross income".
I bring that number with me until line 43, then it disappears...
I just get a bunch of zeros.
There is nothing on the 1040 about attaching form 2555, so what is the amount I owe supposed to be on the 1040?
Is there another form I have to fill out?

Please help me

I don't understand what you are asking.

You have income which is taxable in the US? That's my first question.

What year/years are you filing?

You were born in the US but never lived in the US? Never? Makes no sense.

I am reading this (and I don't know if it applies to you): "Enter the smaller of line 3 or line 6 here and on line 49 of your 2010 Form 2555." Is that where you are getting hung up? http://www.irs.gov/instructions/i2555/ch02.html#d0e203

First, ALL world-wide income of a U.S. citizen is subject to U.S. income taxes, but there is an exclusion for foreign earned income. That is what the Form 2555 is for.

The income is listed as wages (Line #7) or self-employment income using Schedule C. The debit of the excluded income is listed on Line #21 of Form 1040 as a negative number.

Yes, the Form 2555 must be submitted.

SexlessWive:

You probably will need to file past year returns back to 2004. If you need professional help, email me at [email protected].

I am in the same situation and I am wondering why someone would need to file so many years of back taxes if they have not been living in the US? So far as I know the laws just changed to force people to file by placing a 10k fine on not filing.

Since I posted my answer in 2011, he IRS has changed their poilcy. Now you need only go back THREE years. So, if you filed after 15 April 2014, you would need to only file for 2011, 2012 and 2013.