11/02/2026
Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) can increase your U.S. tax liability when a separate calculation produces a higher result than the regular tax rules. A large investment gain, stock-option exercise, or certain deductions can bring it into play—even while you live abroad. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand their U.S. tax obligations. Here’s how AMT […]
11/02/2026
Living abroad doesn’t end your U.S. tax obligations—but filing a return doesn’t necessarily mean you owe tax. Your income, accounts, and eligibility for tax breaks determine what you need to report and pay. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans living abroad make sense of those details. Here’s our U.S. expat tax advice for getting the paperwork […]
10/30/2026
Giving money to family abroad—or receiving a generous gift—doesn’t automatically mean a U.S. tax bill. But gift tax exclusions, the donor’s tax status, and reporting requirements determine what you need to file. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand their U.S. tax obligations. Here’s how to separate a gift that needs paperwork from one that […]
10/29/2026
A non-U.S. spouse can qualify for spousal Social Security benefits on a worker’s U.S. earnings record—even without a U.S. work history of their own. Receiving those benefits while living abroad requires a separate check of citizenship, residence, and overseas-payment rules. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand the U.S. tax implications of retirement income. For […]
10/28/2026
U.S.-formed companies no longer have to file beneficial ownership information reports with FinCEN. Certain foreign-formed companies registered to do business in the U.S., however, still have reporting obligations. At Bright!Tax, we help American business owners abroad make sense of their U.S. tax and reporting responsibilities. If you run a company across borders, the first BOIR […]
10/27/2026
An ITIN is a U.S. tax identification number for someone who needs one for federal tax purposes but isn’t eligible for a Social Security number. If you live abroad, your non-U.S. spouse or a dependent may need an ITIN to appear on your return or claim an eligible tax benefit. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans […]
10/23/2026
Modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI, helps determine whether you qualify for tax breaks such as education credits and direct Roth IRA contributions. For Americans abroad, excluded foreign income can count toward those limits—even when your U.S. tax bill is low. At Bright!Tax, we check these calculations alongside your exclusions and credits. A small tax […]
10/22/2026
Transferring money internationally can cost more than the fee on the screen. Exchange-rate markups, funding charges, and deductions along the way can all shrink what arrives. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand the tax and reporting side of moving money across borders. Here’s what to check before sending savings, paying overseas bills, or supporting […]
10/21/2026
The Windfall Elimination Provision has been repealed, removing WEP reductions from Social Security benefits for January 2024 onward. If a foreign pension or other non-covered pension previously reduced your benefit, you could be entitled to higher payments and a retroactive adjustment. At Bright!Tax, we help Americans abroad understand how those payments fit into their retirement […]
10/20/2026
U.S. parents living abroad can claim the Child Tax Credit if they meet the eligibility rules, with up to $2,200 available per qualifying child for 2026. But qualifying for the credit doesn’t guarantee a refund—and filing Form 2555 to claim the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion prevents you from claiming its refundable portion. At Bright!Tax, we […]