Get to know the author
The US tax system is unique if you compare it to other countries.
How so? Well, first, it requires expats to file US taxes from abroad each year, reporting their worldwide income, even if they file foreign taxes, too.
Expats often also have additional reporting requirements that Americans living in the states don’t. For example, if you want to benefit from the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and reduce your US tax bill, you need to file Form 2555.
Expats generally face the following issues:
- They don’t know how to fill out the forms correctly due to a complex situation and multiple streams of income
- They don’t know how to avoid paying taxes on the same income to two countries, or
- They didn’t know they had to file the US tax return at all, and now need to catch up.
This is where expat tax professionals jump in and save the day.
If you’re having trouble choosing from a sea of CPAs and tax preparers, we’ll tell you exactly why expats prefer to work with Bright!Tax team.
World-class US expat expert CPAs at your disposal
Bright! Tax only employs the most qualified and personable, expat-expert American-credentialed CPAs.
Most Bright!Tax professionals also have MAs or MBAs as well as their CPA qualifications. This gives our clients extra confidence in their expertise on all things US tax. With our global footprint, you’ll have access to these professionals around the globe. In many cases, they’ll be much closer to your timezone and country of residence than you’d expect!
Note:
Our CEO, Katelynn Minott, was recognized with CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 Award in 2021, and spoke at the 2021 Expats Virtual Financial Summit.
Access to your most tax-efficient outcome
Bright!Tax CPAs who are highly experienced and truly dedicated to maximizing your tax savings. Our tax preparers specialize in creating personalized strategies tailored to each client’s unique situation. This individualized approach often results in significant tax savings that can exceed the cost of our services.
By choosing Bright!Tax, you’re investing in knowledgeable professionals who work diligently to optimize your tax position and provide excellent value for your money.
Meet your Bright!Tax CPA before we ask for info
Trust and confidence in the tax professional you’re working with is fundamental to a positive working relationship. Bright!Tax offers a complimentary kick-off call with your assigned tax professional first. This allows you to feel comfortable before providing us with any tax details or files.
Many tax services ask for sensitive personal and financial information or require you to complete an organizer before you meet your tax professional. We’ll only ask for these details after you’ve met your tax professional and received an estimate of the cost of our services.
Bright!Tax is more responsive to your needs
At Bright!Tax, we know that alongside expertise, another key factor in your satisfaction as a client is your CPA’s availability and responsiveness.
Our CPAs serve clients year-round, meaning your Bright!Tax CPA will be available to support you through IRS notices, financial milestones, or tax planning once your tax filing is complete.
Our gold standard for email communication is eight business hours (not days or even longer like at many other firms). You’ll never be left wondering whether we’ve received your message.
And if you want to get on the phone?
Many tax firms are email-only, meaning you won’t get to meet your tax professional over Zoom or on the phone. Bright!Tax CPAs are available for phone calls to save time and talk you through the more complex or stressful aspects of your tax situation.
Note:
Our stated goal is for B!T clients to have a 'perfect experience', from your first overture to us all the way through to the successful completion of a project on your behalf.
Every Bright!Tax project is reviewed
To ensure that our returns are 100% accurate, every tax return we prepare is reviewed by two Bright!Tax professionals. This model differs from the solo tax preparer model, which increases the possibility of oversight and mistakes.
In busy times when individual tax preparers may become overworked and overwhelmed, having two sets of eyes on your tax filing is a critical element of quality!
You can count on us for kindness
Kindness is one of our core firm values at Bright!Tax.
Our professionals seek to always add a personal touch to the conversation, going above and beyond to make you feel seen and heard. Taxes can be complex, and our goal is to help you understand them in clear and easy terms. We want to ensure you truly make the most of your financial situation.
Our team has worked with countless new clients who have tried other firms (including the ‘Big 4’ accounting firms). Many declared that working with Bright!Tax is preferable thanks to our dedication and attentiveness to every client’s individual needs.
US expat tax is all we do & we are very good at it
Our stated goal is for B!T clients to have a ‘perfect experience’, from your first overture to us all the way through to the successful completion of a tax project. According to client feedback, in the overwhelming majority of cases, we achieve this goal.
The best testament to this is the number of clients who return to use our services year after year. After building a trusting relationship with their Bright!Tax CPA, clients come back for faultless service and a continuing working relationship with the team they trust.
We offer better, bespoke online interfaces
An important tool that helps us make the US tax filing process easy for our clients is our online Client Organizer, designed and built from the ground up by Silicon Valley experts. It provides a simple, intuitive, and secure way for our clients to provide us with the financial information relevant to their projects and nothing more.
Our goal is to ask you for exactly what you need and let you return to your life abroad.
We are five-time award winners
Don’t just take our word for it!
Bright!Tax is the only US expat tax firm to have won five FEM EMMA awards for both innovation in financial services and overall excellence in accounting services.
