Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

US Expat Tax Guide for Americans Working in Japan

tax guide Americans Japan

Japan. The land of sushi, Pokémon, incredibly fast bullet trains, and high-tech toilets that can even play music during your bathroom sessions. While the year is 2022, it feels like the Japanese are living in 3022.  Japan is also the country that tens of thousands of American expats call home. According to recent data, currently, […]

Can US Expats Collect Social Security Benefits? 

US expat social security

When it comes to US expat taxes, there’s a lot to handle. Expats must file various forms depending on their situation (such as the FBAR or Foreign Tax Credit) and comply with strict IRS deadlines.  Something that may go over the heads of US expats as they file their tax returns, however, is Social Security. […]

What is GILTI? What Expats Need to Know About IRS Form 8992

US expat researches, "What is GILTI" on his computer.

Living abroad as a US expat can open you up to new opportunities – particularly when it comes to your career. Depending on your future goals, you may even decide to go into business for yourself. If you do, it’s important to understand how forming your own foreign corporation can impact your taxes, particularly with […]

Filing Form 2555: A Guide for US Expats

Form 2555

Uncle Sam and American expats aren’t exactly the best of friends. Regardless of where they live, American citizens have to declare their worldwide income to the IRS, and many aren’t even aware of this.   Yep, you heard that right. That’s because the United States is one of only two countries that applies citizenship-based taxation.  And […]

FBAR Deadline 2025 – Filing Requirements for US Expats

Tax filing online

Just like taxpayers on US soil, Americans abroad typically have one or more bank accounts to receive their income and facilitate payment of living expenses. For expats, the fact that these accounts for everyday financial management are foreign creates an additional U.S. Treasury reporting requirement called the FBAR, or the Foreign Bank Account Report. For […]

How to Use IRS Exchange Rates for Your Tax Return

IRS Exchange Rates

All Americans whose income exceeds certain thresholds must file (and potentially pay) United States taxes. Due to the US’s system of citizenship-based taxation, this is true even for American citizens and resident aliens living abroad. But no matter what currency their income is issued in, US expats must report it in US dollars (USD) — […]