Comparison · updated monthly
1040 Abroad is human-prepared expat filing with free pre-engagement consults. It's strong on straightforward expats and Streamlined catch-up — not a PFIC specialist.
1040 Abroad presents human-prepared expat-tax services; verify its current scope, credentials, and fees directly. Atamatax is self-serve software: its diagnostic and supported on-screen calculations are free, while generating draft forms and worksheets requires payment.
Who 1040 Abroad is for
1040 Abroad fits expats who want a human to prepare and own the whole filing, value a free consult to talk through their situation first, or need Streamlined catch-up for missed years. If you'd rather have someone handle it for you than work through a wizard, that's their strength.
Side-by-side
Delivery model
- Atamatax
- Self-serve software you drive yourself.
- 1040 Abroad
- Human-prepared, done-for-you filing.
Pricing
- Atamatax
- $299 / $499 / $799 flat per return, shown upfront.
- 1040 Abroad
- Flat, transparent fees per service.
Free on-screen summary before paying
- Atamatax Winner
- Yes — see computed draft numbers before purchasing the package.
- 1040 Abroad
- Free pre-engagement email consult, not a full draft.
Human consultation
- Atamatax
- Software-first; refers complex cases to independent CPAs.
- 1040 Abroad Winner
- Free email consults; a person prepares the return.
Form 8621 (PFIC)
- Atamatax Winner
- Built-in specialty; up to 25 per return.
- 1040 Abroad
- Handled, but not their core specialty.
FBAR + FATCA (Form 8938)
- Atamatax
- Generated in the same flow.
- 1040 Abroad
- Prepared as part of the filing.
Streamlined catch-up filings
- Atamatax
- Current-year focus; complex catch-up referred out.
- 1040 Abroad Winner
- Strong on Streamlined Foreign Offshore.
Turnaround speed
- Atamatax Winner
- Same-session draft; generate the package on your schedule.
- 1040 Abroad
- Depends on preparer capacity and back-and-forth.
Treaty positions (Form 8833)
- Atamatax
- Dedicated FR / UK / DE / CA / AU desks.
- 1040 Abroad
- Handled case-by-case by a preparer.
The marked column indicates which product handles the feature more completely as of July 2026. We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.
Bottom line
Atamatax is self-serve software for supported foreign-account and PFIC inputs. It shows a free on-screen summary, charges to generate the draft package, and does not e-file or complete a Streamlined submission. Verify any other provider's current preparation, review, and filing scope directly.
Try it free
The on-screen draft is free. You pay when you generate the PDF package.
Start the wizard, see your real numbers, and decide from there.