Form 8621 · Software
Form 8621 software: the self-serve way to file PFICs
Your options for producing Form 8621 — hand-built worksheets, a CPA at $150–$300 per form, or self-serve software — and how they compare.
By Danilson Ramos · Founder, Atamatax
Updated July 2026
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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 human firm — expat CPAs/EAs typically charge $150–$300 per Form 8621, so multi-fund investors pay per form and wait weeks.
- Self-serve software — detect your PFICs and produce the forms yourself, for a flat fee.
How the software options differ
The dedicated PFIC calculators are built mainly for professional preparers — a subscription plus a per-form fee, no 'do I even have a PFIC?' diagnostic, and no Switzerland-specific context. Atamatax answers do I have a PFIC? first, then drafts the 8621 in the context of your whole expat return, at a flat price with up to 25 forms included.
| TurboTax | Preparer PFIC tools | CPA/EA firm | Atamatax | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Produces Form 8621 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Diagnostic — do I have a PFIC? | No | No | Manual | Yes |
| Switzerland context | No | No | Sometimes | Yes |
| Pricing | n/a | Subscription + per form | $150–$300 per form | Flat, up to 25 forms |
Draft your Form 8621, self-serve
Build the §1291 worksheet, or check your holdings first. Atamatax is tax-preparation software, not a CPA firm, and this is not individualised tax advice.
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.