Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Is Scammed Money Tax Deductible? What the IRS Really Says

Woman reacting with shock while holding a credit card, capturing the confusion around the question: is scammed money tax deductible.

Getting scammed is one of those experiences you hope will never happen—and yet, it happens to millions of Americans every year. Maybe it’s a too-good-to-be-true investment, a phone call pretending to be the IRS, or an online “friend” who wasn’t who they said they were. However it unfolds, the result is the same: money gone […]

Form 5471 Explained: Do You Need to Report Your Foreign Corporation?

expat corporation tax Form 5471

You took the leap, set up a business abroad, and now you’re living the dream—until tax season rolls around and you hear about Form 5471. Suddenly, the IRS wants details about your foreign corporation, and missing this form could mean steep penalties. If you’re a U.S. shareholder in a foreign business, there’s a good chance you need to file. […]

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 […]

IRS Form 8965: How to Claim a Health Coverage Exemption

Mature woman working on her laptop at home, reviewing healthcare coverage exemptions that may require Form 8965.

Not long ago, going without health insurance didn’t just mean taking a risk—it also meant paying the IRS. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), taxpayers without full-year coverage faced the “shared responsibility payment,” unless they qualified for an exemption. That’s where Form 8965 came in. Filing the form allowed taxpayers to claim a health coverage […]

Who Are Accidental Americans—and Why Do They Owe U.S. Taxes?

Unexpected news and complex rules—this surprised woman reflects the reality for many accidental Americans.

It’s the world’s most surprising membership: “accidental Americans.” These are people who hold U.S. citizenship—sometimes without even realizing it—and suddenly find themselves caught up in a global game of tax tag. Maybe you were born during a family layover in New York, or you inherited American citizenship from a parent, even though you’ve spent your […]