If you're a US citizen, green card holder, or accidental American living overseas, the IRS still wants a return from you every year, even if you owe nothing. I help expats catch up, stay current, and understand exactly what's being filed and why — no jargon, no judgment.
Living abroad adds a layer of reporting most domestic preparers never deal with. Here's what typically comes up.
Required if your combined foreign accounts topped $10,000 at any point in the year — filed separately from your tax return, directly with FinCEN.
Form 8938 reporting for foreign financial assets above the applicable threshold, which depends on your filing status and where you live.
Can exclude a substantial amount of foreign-earned wages or self-employment income from US tax, if you qualify under the physical presence or bona fide residence test.
A dollar-for-dollar credit for income tax you've already paid abroad — often the better option once local tax rates exceed US rates.
If you own or control a foreign corporation, GILTI/NCTI and PTEP rules come into play — this is where most preparers who don't specialize in expat work fall short.
A path to get current on unfiled returns and FBARs — typically three years of returns and six years of FBARs — without the standard late-filing penalties.
I've owned and run a business abroad since 2018, and I've been through exactly the kind of filing gaps and catch-up work I now help clients with. When I explain FBAR, FATCA, or the Foreign Tax Credit, it's not from a textbook — it's from having done it myself. You don't need to become an expert in any of this. You just need someone who already is, and who's on your side.
Yes. The US taxes citizens and green card holders on worldwide income regardless of where they live. Living abroad opens up tools like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit to reduce or eliminate double taxation — but the filing requirement itself doesn't go away, even at $0 owed.
A lot of expats feel completely off the IRS's radar — I hear some version of "I'd like to see them find me" fairly often. It's an understandable feeling, but not quite accurate. FATCA requires most foreign banks to report US account holders' information directly to the IRS, so it often already knows a foreign account exists before you've filed anything about it. The IRS also shares data with the State Department, which can deny or revoke a passport over seriously delinquent tax debt. It usually doesn't show up as a knock on the door — more often it's a denied passport renewal, or a letter years later with interest and penalties stacked on top. There's a straightforward, penalty-free way to get current before that happens.
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is required if the combined value of your foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point during the year. It's filed separately from your tax return, and penalties for missing it can be steep even when no tax is actually owed.
This is common, especially for accidental Americans and long-term expats. The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures exist specifically for non-willful late filers — typically catching up three years of returns and six years of FBARs without the usual failure-to-file penalties.
Often little or nothing, once the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit are applied correctly. You generally still have to file to claim them, and the calculations get more involved with self-employment income, foreign business ownership, or investment accounts.
It depends heavily on the shape of your situation, not just the fact that you live abroad. If you're a wage-earner with a single income stream that falls below the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion threshold, your return is treated the same as a standard domestic individual return — $300 flat. If you own a business abroad, hold a partnership interest, or have foreign investments, that's a different level of filing entirely — foreign entity and investment reporting (Form 5471, PFIC, and related forms) starts at $1,900 per entity, since these filings carry real complexity and real penalty exposure if done incorrectly. See the full pricing page for an itemized breakdown, or take the quiz for a ballpark specific to your situation.
Whether you're behind on filings or just want a second set of eyes before this year's return, a short conversation is the place to start.