07/19/2026
Japan has long been hailed as a great vacation destination due to its natural beauty, rich culture, and delicious cuisine — but it’s also surprisingly common for Americans to retire in Japan. And with Japan’s great healthcare system, low crime rates, and lower cost of living, it’s not hard to see why. Below, we’ll delve into […]
10/06/2025
The underlying principle of the US tax system is that US citizens and Green Card holders are required to file and report their total worldwide income, whether they live in the US or abroad, and wherever in the world their income is earned or sourced. This means that many expats have to file two tax […]
10/06/2025
What do astronauts and American expats have in common? American expats and astronauts both need the ability, courage and conviction to not just venture out into the unknown, but to succeed and thrive there. Unfortunately, they also share an inability to escape the requirement to file US taxes. The US taxes based on citizenship, meaning […]
10/06/2025
American expats are required to file a US tax return each year, reporting their worldwide income. Expats may also have to report their foreign businesses, assets, and financial accounts, depending on factors including their types and values. When expats file, they can normally claim one or more IRS exemptions or tax credits that reduce their […]
10/06/2025
Americans living abroad are required to file a US tax return, reporting their worldwide income, just as if they were living in the States. To avoid paying US taxes as well as foreign taxes on their worldwide income, the IRS has made a number of provisions available, such as the Foreign Tax Credit and the Foreign […]
07/19/2026
The US-China tax treaty was signed in 1984 and came into effect in 1987. Unlike many other US tax treaties, it hasn’t been updated since or added to since. The purpose of the treaty is to prevent double taxation for Americans living in China and Chinese citizens living in the US. The principle way it […]
10/06/2025
All Americans (including green card holders) are required to file US taxes, reporting their worldwide income, including expats. Many expats mistakenly assume that they don’t have to file US taxes if they don’t have US sourced income, or due to a tax treaty, however all Americans who earn over $12,000 or just $400 of self-employment […]
10/06/2025
With Winter, thoughts perhaps turn more often to the idea of retirement in a sunnier climate. There are lots of other good reasons for Americans to retire abroad too, such as a better quality of life, more affordable healthcare, and the opportunity to explore another culture. One important consideration for Americans who would like to […]
10/07/2025
Americans who move abroad are required to continue filing US taxes, reporting their worldwide income, wherever in the world they may live. The US is almost unique in having this requirement for expats to file. As expats may also have to pay taxes in the country where they live, the IRS has provided some exemptions, […]
05/29/2026
Brandon Fathy has been named as the latest Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award Winner. Thanks to Bright!Tax’ support, Brandon will be taking up a place at the University of Leicester in the UK to begin a PHD in Archeology in January. The Bright!Tax Global Scholar Program was set up in 2016 to provide opportunities for exceptional […]