Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

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 […]

8 Things US Expats Need to Know About Digital Nomad Taxes

Digital nomad taxes

Even just a decade ago, the term “digital nomad” would likely have been met with looks of confusion. Flash forward to today, though, and it’s become a household phrase. With the COVID-19 pandemic leading to an explosion in remote work, more Americans than ever are taking advantage of this newfound flexibility to travel the world […]

The Top 8 Things You Need To Know About FATCA

FATCA

Enacted in 2010 by Congress to ensure U.S. taxpayers don’t hide money in foreign accounts to avoid paying taxes, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is regrettably still a cause of confusion and misunderstanding. In this article, we reveal eight crucial things you need to know about FATCA. Let’s dive in. 1. FATCA is […]

How to Become an Expat: Tips to Plan and Prepare

How to become a US expat

More and more Americans feel the pull to explore life in another country. According to research by the University of Kent, over 33% of Americans aspire to move overseas in the future. As remote work has become more mainstream, many Americans enjoy many opportunities to travel abroad and explore new cultures simultaneously.  As exciting as […]

Dual Citizenship Taxes: A Guide for US Expats

dual citizens taxes US expats

Dual citizenship comes with many perks, like unrestricted permission to live and work in a particular country. It also often lets you benefit from that country’s social programs, vote, and pass citizenship onto your children. The not-so-great part? Dual citizenship taxes can be complex. Those with dual citizenship between the United States and another country […]

Small Business Owners & Form 1099-K: What You Need to Know

If you’re a business owner, freelancer, independent contractor, or otherwise self-employed, you may have already heard about Form 1099-K. While the form was first introduced in 2011, it’s made headlines in recent years for drastic changes in its reporting thresholds — which have changed yet again for 2024. Below, we’ll walk you through the basics […]