Tax Planning & Advice

If you’re like many American expats, filing your US tax return from abroad may seem like a daunting task, however it doesn’t have to be that way.  When filing from abroad, being prepared and understanding which documents to gather is important to ensure a smooth, stress-free filing process. Once you reach out to an expat […]

If you’re an American living abroad, you may have already heard of the concept of “citizenship-based taxation.” If you haven’t, though, you’re not alone.  Many US expats only find out about this unique tax system after they move overseas. It’s a concept all US citizens should familiarize themselves with, however, as it has major tax […]

Many Americans living abroad in 2022 are unaware or confused about their US tax filing obligations. The US tax system is unusual, as it taxes based on citizenship. Almost every other country either taxes based on residence (so only people living in that country have to file taxes there), or taxes based on income arising […]

Do expats pay state taxes? If this question isn’t top of mind when planning an international move, it’s understandable. There are a lot of other (frankly more exciting) things to think about.  Amidst all the excitement, though, it’s important to keep practical details (such as your tax obligations) in mind. The US operates on a unique […]

US citizens are required to file US taxes if they’re living abroad, despite often having to file foreign income taxes as well. International tax treaties don’t prevent US citizens resident overseas from having to file US taxes, however they do stipulate how to avoid double taxation, most often by claiming tax credits when you file. […]

The IRS Standard Deduction allows Americans to deduct a fixed amount of their income from US tax when they file their federal return. The Standard Deduction lets Americans avoid the hassle of itemizing their actual deductions when they file. The amount of the Standard Deduction was very low before the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs […]

We’ve created a tax calendar for Americans filing from overseas this year. Americans living abroad are required to file US taxes, as US law states that all American citizens and Green Card holders have to report their worldwide income every year on Form 1040. Most other countries only tax residents. When you file your US […]

Americans living abroad – 2022 IRS tax filing opens this year on Monday January 24. Overseas Americans have to file US taxes on their worldwide income just like Americans living in the States. This is because, unlike most countries, the U.S. taxes based on citizenship, regardless of where you live in the world. Filing as […]

ue to the US having a citizenship-based tax system, the ten million Americans living abroad are subject to US tax reporting rules on their overseas income, accounts, businesses and assets. The US has tax treaties in place with around 60 other countries, but they don’t prevent Americans living abroad from having to file and pay […]

Living abroad is an adventure and a privilege. At Bright!Tax, we are expats too – our team members are based in over 30 countries! This gives us a unique insight into the experience and challenges of living overseas that lets us better serve our American expat clients. Lots is happening here at Bright!Tax. Our team […]