Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

What is a Golden Visa? Breaking Down Residency by Investment

Charming patio in Santorini, Greece—an idyllic setting that prompts the question: what is a golden visa and how can it lead to residency?

A Golden Visa is like stepping into the priority lane at immigration—not because of your frequent flyer miles, but because you’ve made a qualifying investment. Countries use these programs to attract foreign capital, and in return, investors get long-term residency, visa-free travel perks, and sometimes even a path to citizenship. For non-EU citizens, especially Americans […]

Form 709: How U.S. Taxpayers Report Gifts to the IRS

Cash tied with a red ribbon, representing a financial gift that may require filing Form 709 for gift tax reporting.

Big gifts come with a little fine print. If you give more than the annual exclusion to any one person in a year (or make another reportable transfer), Form 709 is the paperwork that keeps score. Here’s the surprise: filing the form doesn’t usually mean paying the federal gift tax. Instead, it’s more like keeping […]

Filing Late? Use IRS Form 4868 to Request a Tax Extension

Individual working on tax paperwork and laptop, preparing to submit Form 4868 for a filing extension.

April 15 has a way of sneaking up on all of us. One minute you’re making New Year’s resolutions, and the next you’re staring down the tax deadline, wondering how it got here so fast. If your paperwork is still in limbo—or you’d simply like a little breathing room—the Internal Revenue Service has a safety […]

IRS Form 2350: How Expats Can Extend Their U.S. Tax Deadline

Joyful retired couple walking along the beach, symbolizing the extended filing timeline offered by Form 2350 for expats.

Living abroad can reset almost everything—your time zone, your grocery list, even your definition of “good coffee.” What it doesn’t reset? Your obligation to file a U.S. tax return. For expats, the real prize is tax relief through the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) or Foreign Housing Exclusion. But to qualify, you need to show […]

Is Scammed Money Tax Deductible? What the IRS Really Says

Woman reacting with shock while holding a credit card, capturing the confusion around the question: is scammed money tax deductible.

Getting scammed is one of those experiences you hope will never happen—and yet, it happens to millions of Americans every year. Maybe it’s a too-good-to-be-true investment, a phone call pretending to be the IRS, or an online “friend” who wasn’t who they said they were. However it unfolds, the result is the same: money gone, […]

Retire in Ireland: Legal Residency, Tax Rules, and Cost of Living

Stunning aerial view of the Cliffs of Moher, reflecting the natural beauty that draws many to retire in Ireland.

If your idea of retirement involves trading rush-hour traffic for winding country lanes, and your morning soundtrack is less car horns and more fiddles and birdsong, then retirement in Ireland might be calling your name. The Emerald Isle has long enchanted visitors with its rolling green hills, cozy pubs, and warm-hearted locals—and for many Americans, […]