02/20/2026
If you worked in a job that didn’t pay into Social Security (such as certain government roles or employment overseas that did not pay U.S. Social Security), you may have run into the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). This rule reduced Social Security benefits for certain public employees, federal workers under the CSRS, and some U.S. […]
02/19/2026
If you thought learning to drive on the left was a culture shock, just wait until you navigate healthcare in Australia. From the moment you touch down, you’ll notice Aussies are pretty proud of their health system—and with good reason. The government takes healthcare seriously, with policies that focus on access, prevention, and keeping the […]
02/18/2026
Being an expat with kids comes with a unique set of challenges. Everyday expat hurdles—like navigating visas, schools, and healthcare—are multiplied when you add dependent little humans to the mix. However, when it comes to U.S. taxes, having children can bring valuable tax benefits. One of the biggest is the Child Tax Credit. If you […]
02/18/2026
Imagine building a life abroad—new job, new home, new community—only to find out the IRS still expects you to file U.S. taxes every single year. For millions of Americans overseas, that’s not a surprise waiting in the fine print—it’s the reality of citizenship-based taxation. This taxation system means that even if you earn your entire […]
02/18/2026
Move to Australia, and you’ll quickly learn two things: flat whites are practically a national treasure, and superannuation is not optional. Known simply as “super,” it’s Australia’s mandatory retirement savings system—part trust account, part investment vehicle, part mystery for many U.S. expats trying to balance two tax systems at once. Unlike a U.S. 401(k), where […]
02/15/2026
You filed your U.S. tax return. You dotted your I’s, crossed your T’s, maybe even triple-checked your 1040. And yet—somewhere in the IRS’s massive labyrinth of rules—you missed one tiny-but-critical detail: an international information return. If you’ve got ties to a foreign trust, corporation, or financial asset, the IRS wants more than your income. It […]
02/14/2026
If you’re a U.S. citizen living abroad and investing locally, there’s a decent chance the IRS has its eye on your portfolio—even if you’ve never heard of a PFIC. PFICs, or Passive Foreign Investment Companies, sound like something you’d only encounter in a finance textbook. In reality, they include many common investment vehicles like non-U.S. […]
02/11/2026
American families moving to Germany often arrive with two suitcases, three browser tabs open, and one big question: what on earth are we doing about school? Because “best schools in Germany” isn’t one answer. Do you want a German-language program so the Abitur stays on the table, or an international track that lines up more […]
02/12/2026
Got a stake in a company outside the U.S.? Then Form 8992 is about to become your new paperwork frenemy. This IRS form is what U.S. shareholders use to report certain types of foreign business income—especially if you own part of a Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC). I f you’re a business owner, part of a […]
02/10/2026
The languages spoken in Germany are more diverse than many expect. Beyond standard German, regional dialects can sound like entirely different languages, and immigrant communities bring a wide range of voices to everyday life. English pops up a lot in bigger cities, which naturally raises the question: how far will English actually get you, and […]