Fit check
Can Atamatax handle my case?
Sometimes the honest answer is no. Here is exactly where the product is strong, where it isn't enough, and what we recommend in each situation — so you don't find out after paying.
Atamatax is likely a good fit if
- You're a US citizen or green-card holder living abroad (Switzerland and Europe are our deepest coverage)
- You hold foreign ETFs, mutual funds, or brokerage accounts — Swissquote, Interactive Brokers, VIAC, finpension, DEGIRO, a local bank
- You need to know whether your holdings are PFICs and how many Forms 8621 you're facing
- You need the FBAR and Form 8938 thresholds checked against your actual balances
- You want a reviewable draft package or a CPA-ready summary rather than a black-box filing
- You missed FBARs or returns and want a sober read on whether Streamlined applies, before paying anyone
Atamatax may not be enough if
- You own a foreign corporation or a meaningful stake in one (Form 5471 territory)
- You have foreign trusts, foundations, or assurance-vie structures requiring Forms 3520 / 3520-A
- You're under IRS audit or have received an IRS notice
- Your Streamlined case turns on whether your conduct was willful — that's a legal judgment for a professional, not software
- You need someone to sign the return as a paid preparer, or to represent you before the IRS
- You need legal advice
These aren't hidden in the terms — the diagnostic itself routes these situations to a professional instead of pretending to compute them. See what Atamatax deliberately does not do.
Recommended path, per situation
Foreign ETFs or funds, unsure about PFIC exposure
Run the free diagnostic — it classifies your holdings and counts the Forms 8621 before you pay anything.
Run free diagnostic →PFICs confirmed, filing this year
The PFIC tier ($499) computes the elections and generates the Form 8621s in the draft package.
See PFIC pricing →You already have a CPA (or want one to finish)
Generate the package and hand it over — the holdings table, PFIC classifications, threshold logic, and assumptions are laid out so your CPA doesn't redo the analysis at their hourly rate.
See what the package contains →Missed FBARs or missed returns
Check Streamlined eligibility first — it's free, and if your case is willfulness-adjacent we'll say 'talk to a professional' rather than sell you software.
Check Streamlined eligibility →Foreign corporation, trust, audit, or IRS notice
Atamatax is not enough. Use a CPA/EA or tax attorney; our partners page lists what to look for.
Find professional help →Frequently asked
- I only have a foreign bank account — no investments. Do I need Atamatax?
- Maybe not. If your aggregate foreign accounts exceeded $10,000 you need an FBAR (free to file yourself at FinCEN), and Form 8938 only kicks in at much higher thresholds. Run the free checks; if nothing else triggers, we'll say so.
- My case is somewhere between 'simple' and 'call a lawyer'. What do I do?
- Run the free diagnostic. The product is built to route honestly: computable things are computed, uncomputable things are flagged as needing input, and situations software shouldn't judge (willfulness, audits, foreign corporations) are routed to a professional explicitly.
- Does Atamatax file for me?
- No. Today you receive a draft package — official IRS form PDFs pre-filled where integrated, worksheets elsewhere — which you review and file by mail, or hand to your CPA. Integrated e-file via a partner ERO targets Q3 2026.
Last reviewed .