Tax Rules and Compliance

Living abroad may change your view, your routine, and your favorite snacks. It doesn’t automatically end your U.S. tax filing duties. U.S. citizens and resident aliens must still report worldwide income when they meet the filing requirements. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans living abroad work out what to file, which tax breaks to claim, and […]

There’s no single IRS exchange rate for every expat tax situation. The right rate depends on what you’re reporting: regular income, a foreign account, an asset sale, or foreign taxes. At Bright!Tax, we help U.S. expats get those conversions right. Here’s when to use an annual average, a transaction-date rate, or a year-end rate—and why […]

Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) can increase your U.S. tax liability when a separate calculation produces a higher result than the regular tax rules. A large investment gain, stock-option exercise, or certain deductions can bring it into play—even while you live abroad. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand their U.S. tax obligations. Here’s how AMT […]

Living abroad doesn’t end your U.S. tax obligations—but filing a return doesn’t necessarily mean you owe tax. Your income, accounts, and eligibility for tax breaks determine what you need to report and pay. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans living abroad make sense of those details. Here’s our U.S. expat tax advice for getting the paperwork […]

Giving money to family abroad—or receiving a generous gift—doesn’t automatically mean a U.S. tax bill. But gift tax exclusions, the donor’s tax status, and reporting requirements determine what you need to file. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand their U.S. tax obligations. Here’s how to separate a gift that needs paperwork from one that […]

An ITIN is a U.S. tax identification number for someone who needs one for federal tax purposes but isn’t eligible for a Social Security number. If you live abroad, your non-U.S. spouse or a dependent may need an ITIN to appear on your return or claim an eligible tax benefit. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans […]

Transferring money internationally can cost more than the fee on the screen. Exchange-rate markups, funding charges, and deductions along the way can all shrink what arrives. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand the tax and reporting side of moving money across borders. Here’s what to check before sending savings, paying overseas bills, or supporting […]

The Windfall Elimination Provision has been repealed, removing WEP reductions from Social Security benefits for January 2024 onward. If a foreign pension or other non-covered pension previously reduced your benefit, you could be entitled to higher payments and a retroactive adjustment. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand how those payments fit into their retirement […]

Moving abroad doesn’t automatically end your U.S. tax obligations. U.S. citizens and resident aliens still have to report worldwide income when they meet the filing requirements, even if they earn everything overseas and pay tax there. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad work through these rules every day. These 14 tips from our expat tax […]