Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Form 14653: How U.S. Expats Can Catch Up on Back Taxes

Working by the waves, this digital nomad ensures her finances are in order by completing Form 14653.

Some IRS forms make your heart sink. This one might make it skip a beat—in a good way. Form 14653 isn’t just paperwork. It’s a strategic reset button for U.S. expats who’ve fallen behind on their taxes. No penalties, no drawn-out negotiations—just a shot at getting compliant under the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures, as long […]

How the Canada Digital Nomad Visa Works (And What You’ll Need to Stay)

Digital nomad with a laptop near a tranquil lake in autumn, enjoying the freedom offered by the Canada digital nomad visa.

For years, digital nomads chased the sun. Now? They’re chasing Wi-Fi, healthcare, and a functioning visa system. Enter Canada. With tech-friendly cities like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal, a stable economy, and a reputation for infrastructure that actually works, Canada is fast becoming a top choice for remote workers and entrepreneurs looking for more than beachfront […]

FBAR vs 8938: Which One Applies to You (or Is It Both?)

Sorting out FBAR vs 8938—because even confident taxpayers want to get it right.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you need to file FBAR, Form 8938, or both, you’re not alone. It’s one of the great rites of passage for U.S. expats: realizing that the IRS and FinCEN both want a peek at your foreign accounts—but through entirely different lenses. Both forms exist to catch unreported foreign financial assets, […]