10/07/2025
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 […]
11/17/2025
Although Form 3520 can be complex, we have plenty of experience with it as a tax firm specializing in US expat taxes. Below, we’ll walk you through who must file Form 3520, how to do so, where to send it, and more.
10/07/2025
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 […]
10/07/2025
US citizens are required to report their worldwide income to the IRS by filing a federal tax return each year, regardless of whether they live in the US or abroad, whether they are paying foreign taxes or not, or whether they live in a country which has a tax treaty with the US or not. […]
10/07/2025
Trump’s 2016 election campaign promised tax reform, and in December 2017, after just under a year in office, he delivered on his campaign promise by signing into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The bill was written and passed quickly, and as any tax cuts had to be funded by other measures, many people’s […]
10/07/2025
Bright!Tax is immensely proud to announce that we’ve been named as a finalist for the 2018 FEM Americas EMMA awards in two categories: Expat Tax Provider of the Year, and Expatriate Banking and Financial Services Innovation. The Forum for Expatriate Management (FEM) inspires, informs and unites the Global Mobility community … … via an online […]
10/07/2025
President Trump’s campaign promise of tax reform was eventually signed into law as the Tax Jobs and Cuts Act on December 22nd 2017. Some of the changes the Act contains have been well publicized, such as the so called Apple Tax, and lower tax rates. For many, the changes mean planning ahead and making changes […]
10/07/2025
US expats are required to file US taxes, reporting their worldwide income, regardless of the fact that they live abroad. Many expats are also required to file taxes in the country where they live, too, raising the possibility of double taxation on the same income. To avoid this scenario, the IRS has put in place […]
10/07/2025
The Bright!Tax Awards Committee announced last week that Adeel Mufti is the latest recipient of the Bright!Tax Global Scholar award. The Bright!Tax Global Scholar Award offers supplementary tuition fees support to exceptional young Americans who wish to study overseas. Adeel fought off over 300 other applicants in this Award round. The Bright!Tax Awards Committee […]
10/07/2025
Americans who live abroad are still required to file a US tax return, reporting their worldwide income. Expats can claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and/or the Foreign Housing Exclusion however, which allow them to pay less (or in many cases no) US tax (although they still have to file a US return to claim […]