Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Taxes in Mexico: What US Citizens Need to Know

The food, the weather, the lively culture, the low cost of living, the ability to immerse yourself in Spanish… with all of the advantages of living in Mexico, it’s no wonder that more and more Americans are moving there. Along with all of the advantages, though, it can complicate your taxes a bit. However, as […]

Why are banks closing US expats’ brokerage accounts?

Why are some banks closing US expats brokerage accounts

Wells Fargo’s US expat clients have until the end of September 2021 to move their brokerage accounts to another provider or face closure. Wells Fargo isn’t the first bank to turn away expats though. In this article we look at why banks and brokerage firms are denying services to Americans living abroad, and what options […]

Taxes in Germany vs US: What Expats Need to Know

Taxes in Germany - Everything US Expats Need to Know

Last updated April 24, 2023. From hip Berlin to the enchanting Black Forest to the fairytale-esque Neuschwanstein castle, there’s no shortage of amazing sights to see in Germany. Combine that with a high quality of life and a lower cost of living, and it’s easy to see why hundreds of thousands of Americans currently live […]

Calev Isaacson Awarded Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award

Calev Isaacson Awarded Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award

The Bright!Tax Awards Committee is proud to announce that Calev Isaacson is the latest recipient of the Global Scholar Award. The Awards Committee found Calev’s story and ambitions inspirational. He grew up in Arizona, where his father’s family had emigrated to from war-torn Europe in the 1940s. His mother’s family meanwhile were originally Mexican. Calev […]

Should US Expats Invest in Foreign Mutual Funds?

US expat doing her expat taxes at her desk.

US mutual funds are a popular investment vehicle stateside and are frequently recommended as an affordable and convenient way to diversify investment portfolios. With that commonplace advice in mind, many expats consider investing in mutual funds based outside the US. Investing in foreign mutual funds, however, isn’t quite as straightforward as investing in a US-based […]

Tax Return Filing For US Citizens Living Abroad

Tax Return Filing For US Citizens Living Abroad

Over nine million US citizens are living abroad, including US military and diplomatic staff. According to US law, all of them who meet minimum IRS income requirements have to file a US tax return every year, reporting their worldwide income. Neither international tax treaties, nor where their income is sourced, nor whether US citizens living […]