Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

2020 Year-End Tax Planning for Expats

2020 Year-End Tax Planning for Expats

It’s an unusual year in multiple ways, and this is also true when it comes to 2020 year-end tax planning. Both the Coronavirus pandemic and the presidential election will affect year-end tax planning for some expats this year. While the pandemic has affected the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion rules, tax changes next year due to […]

The Best Expat Tax Attorneys in 2020

The Best Expat Tax Attorneys

Americans living abroad are required to file a US tax return every year, reporting all of their global income. No other developed nation requires expats to file in this way. American expats often have to file a foreign return too, and understand how the two different tax systems converge. Furthermore, expats are subject to additional […]

IRS Forms 8805 and 8804 – A Guide for Expats

IRS Forms 8805 and 8804 - A Guide for US Expats

The US tax system is based on citizenship, which means that American citizens living abroad are required to file US taxes every year, reporting their worldwide income. As American expats often have to file foreign taxes too (depending on the rules in the country where they live), they get longer to file, with expats’ tax […]

Where is Your Tax Home?

Where is Your Tax Home? A Guide for Expats

The US requires all American Citizens to file US taxes, reporting their global income, wherever in the world they live or receive income. Because many American expats have to file foreign taxes in another country too, the IRS has introduced some provisions that expats can claim when they file to avoid double taxation. The two […]

Taxes on Unearned Income: Rules for US Expats

Man holding a phone while sitting in front of a computer

When most people think about income taxes, they think of the taxes automatically withheld from their paycheck — or, if they’re self-employed, the quarterly tax estimates they pay. But, what about taxes on unearned income? Unearned income — also known as passive income — refers to the income you don’t actively work for. This can […]

Foreign Rental Property Depreciation: A Guide for US Expats

You may already know that Americans who own rental property in the United States can claim depreciation to reduce their tax liability. What you may not realize, though, is that US expats can also claim depreciation on rental property based abroad. While foreign rental property depreciation has some unique nuances, we’re here to walk you […]

How to File an Amended Tax Return: 1040-X [Expat Edition]

US expat researches, "How to file an amended return" on her laptop on an outdoor terrace.

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 […]

David Miller Awarded Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award

David Miller Global Scholar

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 […]