12/21/2023
If you’re wondering how to amend a tax return, don’t worry — you’re far from alone. Filing US taxes from abroad can be complex. It’s not uncommon for US expats to make errors, only to realize it after they’ve already submitted their return. Fortunately, that’s what an amended US individual income return (Form 1040-X) is […]
01/29/2025
David Miller is the first recipient of the Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award in 2020. Bright!Tax is the leading provider of US tax services for Americans living abroad. With expat clients in over 190 countries, Bright!Tax is keenly aware of the benefits of living abroad, and how the over 9 million US expats are both the new American […]
09/03/2020
Nine million Americans live abroad, and expats employed by foreign firms in particular, often have foreign retirement accounts. Because the US tax system is based on citizenship, all US citizens, including expats, have to file a tax return to the IRS every year, reporting their worldwide income and assets. Foreign retirement plans often have tax benefits […]
09/03/2020
The Streamlined Procedure is an IRS amnesty program that was introduced in its current form in 2014 to allow certain expats who aren’t compliant with their US tax filing to catch up without facing penalties. All American citizens and Green Card holders are required to file US taxes on their worldwide income. When they file, […]
09/11/2024
Serving your country overseas comes with its share of challenges, but one you might not expect is navigating the complex world of US taxes. As a member of the US military deployed abroad — one of thousands of Americans working as military personnel supporting US armed forces in combat zones abroad — you’re still required […]
09/04/2020
American expats have to differentiate between US and foreign source income when they file their US taxes. All Americans, including Americans living abroad, have to file US taxes, due to the fact that the US taxes based on citizenship. American expats also have to report their foreign registered businesses, and financial (i.e. bank and investment) accounts and […]
01/29/2025
Stimulus Payments for Americans, including expats, were announced as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, passed on March 27th. The purpose of the Stimulus Payments is to provide financial assistance to Americans impacted by the Coronavirus outbreak. As of Friday May 8th, the IRS had sent 595,548 CARES Act Stimulus Payments to […]
08/10/2020
US expats are required to file a US tax return, reporting their worldwide income, wherever in the world they live. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is an IRS provision that expats can claim that helps them reduce their US tax bill, often to zero, when they file from abroad. This year though, due to the […]
08/01/2024
Many Americans living abroad get the opportunity to acquire foreign investments at some point in their fiscal journey. While investing in financial vehicles outside of the US can play an important role in diversifying your portfolio and aligning your investment strategy to the economy of your host country, it’s important to understand how foreign holdings […]
12/21/2024
As a US citizen or green card holder living abroad, navigating the complexities of American tax rules can be daunting. Unlike many other countries that tax only income earned within their borders or require only residents to file, the US taxes its citizens and green card holders on their global income—no matter where they live. […]