08/10/2020
Because the US taxes based on citizenship rather then residence, just like Americans living stateside, expatriates are still required to file a US tax return if they earn over around $10,000, or just $400 of self-employment income. Similarly, they must declare and pay US taxes on their worldwide income, although there are several exclusions that […]
03/02/2021
It has been estimated that there are several thousand Americans living in South Africa. Living in South Africa is an incredible experience for a number of reasons, including the cost of living, the friendly people, the economic stability, and the beaches, landscapes, and wildlife. As an American expatriate living in South Africa though, what exactly […]
03/02/2021
It has been estimated that there are 4,000 Americans living in Nicaragua. Living in Nicaragua is an incredible experience for a number of reasons, including the quality of life, the friendly locals, the relaxed culture, and the beaches and landscapes. As an American expatriate living in Nicaragua though, what exactly do you need to know […]
05/31/2023
It has been estimated that there are 60,000 Americans living in Hong Kong. Living in Hong Kong is an amazing experience for a variety of reasons, including the culture, the sophistication, the quality of life, and the mountains and beaches just a stone’s throw from the city. As an American expatriate living in Hong Kong […]
05/12/2025
You know that foreign pension you barely remember signing up for? Or the joint account you opened just to pay rent abroad? Yeah—the IRS wants to talk about it. Officially called the Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets, form 8938 is how the U.S. keeps tabs on Americans with money overseas. If you’re a U.S. […]
02/16/2021
Bright!Tax has partnered with Godiva Tax Services to offer a one stop shop US/Australian tax filing solution for US Expats living in Australia. Please contact us for further information. Americans living in Australia, or thinking about moving to Australia, have plenty of reasons to be happy: it’s a land of beautiful landscapes, interesting wildlife, and […]
03/15/2021
All Americans who earn over around $12,400 (in 2020, or just $400 of self-employment income, or just $5 for Americans married filing separately from a foreigner) are required to file a US federal tax return each year, no matter where in the world they live or where their income was sourced. This means that the […]
09/03/2020
The Bright!Tax Awards Committee is pleased to announce that Erin Moran has been awarded a Bright!Tax Global Scholar award. Erin is a postgraduate student working towards her PhD at University College London’s Institute of Education. Erin fended-off over 400 other applicants to claim the latest award. Erin’s journey is as ambitious as it is unique. […]
09/03/2020
FBAR is an acronym for Foreign Bank Account Report. It’s a filing requirement for Americans with bank or financial accounts overseas that meet certain criteria. Americans have been required to report certain offshore accounts since 1970, when the Bank Secrecy Act was passed to prevent money being kept offshore for the purpose of avoiding US […]
08/10/2020
Bright!Tax Continues to Raise the Bar Globally – Introduces Latest Innovation – a Secure Online Client Interface that Makes the Process of Filing US Taxes from Abroad a Whole Lot Easier! Most often when American expats engage a US expat tax firm to prepare their US taxes, they are first greeted warmly, but then are […]