Form 8621 software for Americans abroad
Prepare up to 25 Forms 8621 for one flat $499.
Scan your foreign funds and UCITS ETFs free. See which holdings are likely PFICs, understand the probable filing workload, and pay only when your draft package is ready.
Up to 25 supported forms · No per-form fee · Results before payment · No credit card
Each supported PFIC gets a Form 8621 worksheet with every §1291, QEF or mark-to-market figure computed and mapped to the form's lines, plus the assumption log — up to 25 in one package.
Atamatax is self-serve tax-preparation software: you review the package and file it with the instructions provided — how every figure is checked.
By Danilson Ramos · Founder, Atamatax
Published July 2026 · Updated September 2026
What flat pricing changes at three PFICs or more
Atamatax’s PFIC Portfolio package is $499 for up to 25 supported Forms 8621 in one tax year. Bright!Tax lists professional preparation starting at $170 per PFIC without distributions (last checked September 2026; see the published fee schedule). Side by side:
| PFICs | Per-form professional preparation | Atamatax PFIC Portfolio |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | from $170 | $499 flat |
| 3 | from $510 | $499 flatsaves $11 |
| 5 | from $850 | $499 flatsaves $351 |
| 10 | from $1,700 | $499 flatsaves $1,201 |
With one or two PFICs, per-form professional pricing is the smaller number. From three PFICs the per-form total passes the flat price, and every additional holding widens the gap — that is the point at which flat pricing becomes economically relevant, and why this page leads with the free scan: it tells you how many forms you are actually looking at before you choose.
The two figures buy different things. A professional engagement includes review, advice, a preparer’s signature and filing; Atamatax’s software deliverable is a reviewable draft package you complete and file yourself. Compare the service scope together with the price, not the price alone.
Mainstream tax software (TurboTax) doesn't produce Form 8621, so U.S. persons with foreign funds are left with three real options.
The three options
- Hand-build the §1291 worksheet — accurate, but painful and error-prone.
- A professional provider — scope may be priced per form, hourly, or as a case-specific package; confirm whether review and filing are included.
- Self-serve software — identify potential PFICs, calculate supported inputs, and produce a reviewable draft package.
How the software options differ
Different PFIC tools serve different users and expose different inputs, classifications, calculations and deliverables. Atamatax starts with potential-PFIC analysis, then drafts supported Form 8621 inputs in the context of the expat-return workflow under the configured PFIC · $499 tier, with up to 25 forms included.
| TurboTax | Preparer PFIC tools | CPA/EA firm | Atamatax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Produces Form 8621 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Potential-PFIC screening | No | Varies by product | Fact-specific review | Included |
| Professional advice / signature | No | Verify with provider | Depends on engagement | No |
| Pricing | Product-specific | Verify with provider | Per-form, hourly, or case quote | PFIC · $499 |
Start with the workflow that matches your holdings
For one known sale or excess distribution, use the Form 8621 §1291 calculator. For several held or sold positions, the PFIC portfolio analyzer runs the same engine as the return workflow. If the securities are European UCITS funds or sit at IBKR, review the UCITS PFIC guide or Interactive Brokers PFIC guide before entering them.
Scan first, then draft your Form 8621
Run your holdings through the free portfolio analyzer to see which are likely PFICs and how many forms you are looking at, then continue into the package when the draft looks right. For a single known sale or excess distribution, the §1291 worksheet builder is the faster route.
Other free tools
Authorities cited
- IRC §1291 — IRC §1291 — Interest on tax deferral (excess-distribution regime)
- IRC §1297 — IRC §1297 — Definition of a passive foreign investment company
- IRS Form 8621 — About Form 8621 — Information Return by a Shareholder of a PFIC or QEF
Primary sources (Cornell Legal Information Institute for the US Code and CFR; IRS.gov for forms, procedures, and treaty documents). This page is general information, not individualized tax or legal advice.
Atamatax provides tax preparation support and educational resources. This website does not constitute legal or tax advice.