Tax Rules and Compliance

Foreign Housing Exclusion: Calculate and Offset Expenses

Expat couple at a laptop working out their Foreign Housing Exclusion

IRS provisions like the Foreign Housing Exclusion often aren’t the first thing US expats think about when moving overseas, but they should be! All US citizens and permanent residents are required to file a federal US tax return every year, even if they live and pay taxes outside the US. While this is a hassle, […]

US Expat Taxes: Year-end Planning Checklist

hourglass and US dollars, its time to plan year-end US expat taxes

Aargh! It’s time to start thinking about taxes again.  The end of the year should be a period of celebration – popping off the champagne cork and ringing in a new year. But for US expats, the end of the year often comes with apprehension and a lot of anxiety.  While filing taxes should be […]

California State Taxes For US Expats

California isn’t all sun, surf, and sand. Unfortunately, the Golden State is also home to the highest state tax rates in the US. On top of that, the state of California’s Franchise Tax Board (FTB) is known as one of the biggest sticklers among state tax bodies. As a result, some former California residents are […]

What is a U.S. Person Under IRS Tax Rules?

Friends holding an American flag, celebrating as US persons overseas.

The IRS has a very inclusive definition of a “U.S. person”—and it’s not just about citizenship. If you hold a green card, live abroad, have American parents, or even spend a certain number of days in the States, congratulations: you may be a U.S. person for tax purposes. That matters because U.S. persons are required […]

Green Cards: Your Guide to Taxes, Application Process & More

Green cards

It’s not always easy to get detailed information about green cards. The US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) website can be technical and dense, which may leave you even more confused. As a dedicated tax firm for US immigrants and Americans abroad, we’re well familiar with green cards — so we’ve put together a brief, easy-to-understand guide.

Tax on Unearned Income: an Overview for US Expats

Tax on unearned income

When most people think about income taxes, they think about the taxes that are automatically withheld from their paycheck — or, if they’re self-employed, the quarterly tax estimates they pay to the government based on their expected earnings. While that does make up one component of income taxes, it’s not the only one. It’s important […]

Do You Qualify for FATCA Exemptions? Here’s How to Find Out

Mature businessman using a tablet outdoors, looking into whether he qualifies for FATCA exemptions while living abroad.

If you’re a U.S. taxpayer with foreign accounts, FATCA — the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act — is probably lurking somewhere on your radar. It’s the law that makes sure Americans aren’t quietly stashing money overseas without telling the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The twist? Not everyone has to jump through all the hoops. FATCA […]