US expat tax guides.

Compliance · BOFU

Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures: The Complete 2026 Guide for US Expats Behind on Taxes

Behind on US taxes while living abroad? The Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures let non-willful expats get fully compliant — penalty-free. Here's exactly who qualifies, what you file, and how long it takes.

Investments · MOFU

PFIC Rules for US Expats: How Foreign Mutual Funds & ETFs Are Taxed (and How to Report Form 8621)

That Irish-domiciled ETF in your foreign brokerage is almost certainly a PFIC — and the default tax regime is punishing. Here's how PFICs are taxed, the three election regimes, and exactly what Form 8621 requires.

Compliance · BOFU

Haven't Filed US Taxes in Years While Living Abroad? Here's Exactly What to Do (Without Penalties)

Just realized you've gone years without filing US taxes from abroad? You're probably not in trouble — and likely owe $0. Here's the calm, step-by-step way back to compliance, penalty-free.

Retirement · MOFU

Foreign Pensions & US Taxes: Are They Taxable, and Are They Secretly PFICs?

Your foreign pension might be taxable before you ever retire — and could hide PFICs and trust-reporting forms. Here's how US tax treats foreign pensions, which forms apply, and the questions that decide it.

Compliance · TOFU

FBAR for US Expats: Who Must File, the $10k Rule, and How to File FinCEN 114 Correctly

The FBAR trips up almost every US expat at least once. Here's who must file FinCEN Form 114, exactly how the $10,000 threshold works, how to file it yourself, and what happens if you're late.

Compliance · MOFU

FATCA Form 8938 vs FBAR: Which One(s) Do You File as a US Expat? (Thresholds Explained)

Form 8938 and the FBAR look like the same thing — they're not. Here's how the two differ, the much higher Form 8938 thresholds for expats, and why many people abroad file the FBAR but not Form 8938.

Renunciation · MOFU

Renouncing US Citizenship: The Exit Tax, Form 8854, and the Tax Steps You Can't Skip

Renouncing US citizenship doesn't end your tax story automatically. Here's how the exit tax and Form 8854 work, who becomes a 'covered expatriate,' and the five-year compliance step most people overlook.

Compliance · MOFU

Accidental Americans & Dual Citizens: What Happens If You've Never Filed US Taxes

Born in the US but left as a child, or a US citizen through a parent you barely think about? You may owe US tax filings you never knew existed. Here's what 'accidental Americans' actually face — and the penalty-free way to fix it.

Self-employment · MOFU

Self-Employment Tax for Americans Abroad: Why FEIE Doesn't Help and How to Reduce It

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion wipes out your income tax — but not the 15.3% self-employment tax. Here's why freelancers abroad get hit, and the totalization-agreement rule that can legitimately exempt you.

Credits · MOFU

Form 1116 Foreign Tax Credit for Expats: How to Stop Owing US Tax on Foreign-Taxed Income

If you already pay tax where you live, the Foreign Tax Credit can wipe out your US bill dollar-for-dollar. Here's how Form 1116 works, the income 'baskets,' the adjustments that trip people up, and when it beats the FEIE.

Income · TOFU

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555): Limits, Pitfalls, and When It Backfires

The FEIE lets you exclude six figures of foreign income from US tax — but it has a cap, two qualification tests, and a stacking rule that surprises people who go over. Here's how Form 2555 really works, and when the FTC beats it.

Social Security · MOFU

Totalization Agreements: How to Avoid Paying Double Social Security as a US Expat

Totalization agreements stop you paying into two countries' Social Security systems on the same income — and can exempt self-employed Americans from US self-employment tax. Here's how they work, the Certificate of Coverage, and what WEP repeal changed.

State tax · TOFU

Do US Expats Still Owe State Taxes? The Sticky-State Trap (CA, NY, NJ) Explained

Leaving the US doesn't automatically end your state tax obligations. Some states keep taxing you until you formally cut ties. Here's how state residency works abroad, which states are 'sticky,' and how to break domicile cleanly.

Crypto · TOFU

Crypto Taxes for US Expats: Reporting, Transfers Across Borders, and FBAR/8938 Traps

As a US citizen, you report your crypto gains to the IRS no matter where you live — and foreign exchanges add FBAR and Form 8938 questions. Here's how crypto is taxed for expats, what counts as a taxable event, and the cross-border traps.

Credits · TOFU

The Additional Child Tax Credit for US Expats: How to Get a Refund From Abroad

US-citizen kids can mean a real cash refund — even if you owe no US tax from abroad. Here's how the refundable Additional Child Tax Credit works for expats, the SSN rule, and the FEIE mistake that wipes it out.

Investments · MOFU

The Irish UCITS ETF Trap: Why the 'Sensible Index Fund' Your European Broker Sold You Is a PFIC

That low-cost VWRL, IWDA or SWDA your European broker recommended is an Irish- or Luxembourg-domiciled UCITS — and to the IRS, every one is a PFIC. Here's why domicile (not what's inside) decides, what it costs, and the clean ways out.

Investments · BOFU

QEF vs Mark-to-Market vs §1291: Which PFIC Election Should You Make?

Once you know you own a PFIC, the next decision is which tax regime applies: QEF, mark-to-market, or the punitive §1291 default. Here's a clear comparison, when each is available or optimal, and a decision flow to follow per fund.