Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Bright!Tax Shortlisted For Tax Provider of the Year

FEM Emma award

Bright!Tax has been shortlisted for the prestigious FEM EMMA Tax Provider of the Year Award for the EMEA region. The Awards ceremony takes place on Friday November 9th at the O2 Intercontinental in London, England.   For the last eight years, the EMMA Awards have recognized excellence and Innovation in the field of Global Mobility […]

Form 8865 Filing Guide: Reporting Foreign Partnerships as a U.S. Expat

man sitting in a table while using his laptop working out how his dual citizen impacts taxes

If you have a stake in a foreign partnership, you might have a new tax form on your hands: Form 8865. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires certain U.S. citizens with foreign partnership interests to report their share of income, losses, and transactions. While it might not be the most exciting part of managing a business abroad, filing correctly is essential—missing it can […]

Taxes for Expats – Is Foreign Income Tax Exempt?

expat with tax exempt foreign income

When Americans move abroad, they are usually more focused on the adventure ahead than on getting to grips with US tax rules for expats. In fact, many assume that their foreign income is tax exempt. It’s counter-intuitive, in a way, that US expats are required to file US taxes from abroad, declaring their worldwide income. […]

Income Tax Return Filing Procedure for Expats

expat filing tax return procedure

American expats are unfortunate in having to continue filing US taxes from abroad, often as well as filing a tax return in the country where they reside. Filing US taxes from abroad is more complex than filing from within the US though. For example, there are normally more forms to file, and there are also […]

Addison Noel Awarded Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award

Addison Noel

Bright!Tax, the leading US expat tax services provider, established its Global Scholar Program in 2016 to help young Americans have the opportunity to study overseas. Awarded biannually, the program has since provided four exceptional young Americans with the opportunity to study abroad. Now, Colorado resident Addison Noel has become the fifth Bright!Tax Global Scholar, and […]

IRS Form 8621: Reporting PFICs and Foreign Investments as a U.S. Taxpayer

expat filing form 8621

If you’re investing internationally, you might not realize that some foreign assets come with extra IRS reporting requirements. Enter Form 8621—the form U.S. taxpayers must file when they own Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs). PFICs can include foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and even certain foreign corporations. The IRS keeps a close watch on these investments, and failing […]

US Exit Tax: The Cost of Renouncing Citizenship

US Exit Tax

Renouncing U.S. citizenship is a big step—whether you’re making a fresh start in a foreign country, simplifying your federal tax obligations, or just ready to cut through the paperwork that comes with holding a U.S. passport. But before you go, there’s one last thing to consider: the U.S. exit tax. Designed to tax unrealized gains, the exit […]