Tax Rules and Compliance

Landing a job at the United Nations might sound like a diplomatic dream—global mission, international colleagues, and not a cubicle in sight. But for U.S. citizens and resident aliens working at the UN, there’s one very terrestrial reality that refuses to go away: your tax obligations back home. Unlike most jobs, working for the UN […]

If you’ve ever been asked for a Social Security number or a list of countries where you pay tax just to open a bank account, FATCA and CRS are the reason. FATCA helps the U.S. identify foreign accounts linked to U.S. taxpayers, while CRS allows participating countries to exchange account information based on tax residence. […]

The term “California exit tax” gets thrown around like it’s a cover charge to cross the Nevada line. It isn’t. What people are mixing up: (1) a rumor about paying just to leave, (2) splashy wealth-tax proposals that grabbed headlines but didn’t become law, and (3) the perfectly normal rule that California still taxes California-source […]

FATCA is why opening an ordinary bank account abroad can suddenly involve a W-9, a Social Security number and several pointed questions about your ties to the United States. The law requires many foreign banks to report accounts linked to U.S. persons—and requires some Americans abroad to report their foreign financial assets on Form 8938. […]

Here’s a fun fact no one tells you before moving abroad: you might end up paying into two social security systems at once—your host country and the U.S. Talk about double the paperwork, none of the fun. That’s where totalization agreements (a.k.a. international Social Security agreements) come in. These bilateral deals coordinate the U.S. system […]

Leaving the country? The Internal Revenue Service hopes you’re enjoying the view—because they’re coming with you. As far as the U.S. tax code is concerned, moving abroad doesn’t mean you’ve escaped your obligations. In fact, it may mean you’ve got more to keep track of. Citizenship, not location, is what ties you to the U.S. […]

Just found out about PFICs and feeling a little panicked? You’re not alone. Many U.S. expats with foreign investments don’t realize they own a Passive Foreign Investment Company until they’re knee-deep in tax forms—or worse, facing unexpected tax bills. The IRS classifies many foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and investment funds as PFICs, and unfortunately, they come with some of the most […]

The US has tax treaties with dozens of different countries. If you live in one of those countries, it may be worth claiming the tax treaty’s benefits. Keep in mind, though, that each tax treaty is slightly different. As you can imagine, some US tax treaties are more advantageous than others. Below, we’ll give a […]

Americans who earn above a certain threshold — even those living abroad — must file a federal tax return each year. While Americans living within the US must file their return by April 15th, US expats have a June 15 tax deadline. Fortunately, those who need extra time can request an extension. While the time […]