10/06/2025
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 […]
10/06/2025
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 […]
11/17/2025
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 […]
11/17/2025
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. […]
10/06/2025
The majority of Americans use tax software to file their US taxes. In the light of this, it’s strange that the IRS has been changing Form 1040 over the last couple of years, as very few people use it. Instead, the majority either employ a tax preparer, who uses software, or input their information into […]
11/17/2025
If you’re a self-employed US expat, understanding your tax obligations is essential. Self-employed US expats are not only subject to income taxes but also Social Security taxes. Unlike working for an American employer (or some foreign employers1), you are responsible for keeping track of Social Security taxes when you’re self-employed. This is best done proactively […]
11/17/2025
It’s common for longtime US expats to consider the pros and cons of renouncing US citizenship. The annual filing requirement can take a toll on both nerves and patience, leading many to question why, exactly, they maintain their US citizenship. Contrary to popular belief, however, renouncing is a time-consuming process rife with bureaucratic hurdles. To […]
10/06/2025
Two years after Donald Trump signed into law his Tax Reform, in the last few days of December 2019 he signed another law called the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act. The law comes into immediate effect in 2020. It is designed to allow American taxpayers, including expats, to better plan and […]
10/06/2025
There are several routes to American citizenship, but the main one is that if you’re born in the US then you automatically become an American citizen. Some people are born in the US to foreign parents who may be there temporarily though, perhaps studying, on a temporary work assignment, or just on holiday. These families […]
10/06/2025
Skyler Rutkowski is the latest winner of the Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award. The award is made biannually to exceptional young Americans who wish to study overseas. Skyler is the eighth recipient of the award, which was launched in 2016 by Bright!Tax, the world-leading expat tax services firm. Skyler is currently working towards a PHD in […]