03/08/2026
“Free healthcare” sounds reassuring—especially if you’re coming from the U.S. And from the outside, Germany’s system can look exactly like that: universal coverage, strong hospitals, no shock bills. But does Germany have free healthcare? Not quite. Health insurance is mandatory, and what you pay depends on whether you’re in the public system or private coverage. […]
03/12/2026
A capital gain is the increase of the value of an asset that you realize when that asset is sold. Capital gains (and losses) are reported on Form 1040 Schedule D; however the calculations to arrive at the capital gain or loss are reported on IRS Form 8949.
03/08/2026
China doesn’t ease you in gently. It moves fast, changes quickly, and rewards people who arrive prepared. For Americans living in China, 2026 brings real opportunity—global careers, major cities, deep cultural history—but also layers of paperwork, local rules, and practical realities that don’t always translate neatly from life back home. The good news is that […]
03/10/2026
Living abroad comes with a lot of perks—new foods, new friends, and the chance to answer “where are you from?” in increasingly creative ways. But for U.S. citizens, green card holders, and resident aliens living in a foreign country, there’s one not-so-fun challenge that comes with the adventure: double taxation. The IRS loves to keep […]
03/09/2026
Crypto used to feel invisible—wallet address, a few trades, maybe some staking, and not much scrutiny. That era is over. The tax rules themselves haven’t dramatically changed, but enforcement and reporting have. By the 2026 filing season, the IRS has far more visibility into digital asset activity, and taxpayers are expected to match their records […]
03/08/2026
It’s not a fitness challenge. You won’t need a stopwatch, a yoga mat, or to prove how many push-ups you can do in a minute. But the physical presence test is a test—one that can save you thousands in U.S. taxes if you pass. Think of it as the IRS’s version of “Are you really […]
03/07/2026
Every investor hits a rough patch. But for U.S. expats, a dip in your portfolio isn’t just bad luck—it’s a tax opportunity in disguise. Tax loss harvesting is the strategy of turning your investment losses into real-life tax savings by offsetting capital gains and lowering your taxable income. It’s like spring cleaning for your portfolio—except […]
03/06/2026
You’d think moving abroad would simplify your tax life. File your federal return, maybe claim the Foreign Tax Credit or FEIE, and move on. But if money is still flowing to you from the U.S.—rent, investment income, business revenue—another layer of rules can quietly step in. And sometimes, those rules look a lot like a […]
03/05/2026
You can leave the country—but you can’t leave the IRS. Unlike most countries, U.S. taxes are based on citizenship, not residency. That means if you’re a U.S. citizen or green card holder, you’re required to file a federal income tax return every year—even if you’ve spent the entire tax year sipping espresso in Rome or […]
03/04/2026
U.S. Social Security feels like one of the few financial things you shouldn’t have to re-learn after moving abroad. You earned it. It shows up each month. End of story. Then you move to the UK, become a UK tax resident, and suddenly you’re staring at the same payment wondering which country gets to tax […]