Comparison · updated monthly
Greenback is a done-for-you CPA/EA service. Atamatax is self-serve software you drive yourself — with a free draft before you pay.
Greenback Expat Tax Services pairs you with a US-credentialed CPA or EA who prepares your return for you, billed at flat per-service fees. It's a strong choice if you want a human to do the whole thing. Atamatax is built for the filer who'd rather drive the return themselves — guided software specialized in PFIC / Form 8621 — and see a complete draft for free before deciding to pay.
Who Greenback Expat Tax Services is for
Greenback fits expats who want to hand the return to a preparer and don't mind paying per-service fees and waiting on a preparer's queue — especially complex situations like self-employment abroad, multiple foreign entities, or back-tax / streamlined filings.
Side-by-side
Model
- Atamatax
- Self-serve software you complete yourself.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Done-for-you: a CPA/EA prepares the return.
Pricing
- Atamatax Winner
- $299 / $499 / $799 flat per return, published.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Flat per-service fees, billed per form/service.
Free draft before paying
- Atamatax Winner
- Full draft free; you only pay to finalise.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- No free draft — engagement is paid up front.
Form 8621 (PFIC)
- Atamatax Winner
- Core specialty; built-in, up to 25 per return.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Handled by preparers, typically a paid add-on.
FBAR (FinCEN 114) & FATCA (Form 8938)
- Atamatax
- Generated in the same flow.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Prepared as part of the service.
Treaty positions (Form 8833)
- Atamatax
- Dedicated FR / UK / DE / CA / AU desks.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Handled by the assigned CPA/EA.
Turnaround
- Atamatax Winner
- Self-paced; draft in minutes, finalise same day.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services
- Depends on preparer scheduling and back-and-forth.
Arbitrarily complex / unusual cases
- Atamatax
- Refers complex cases to independent CPAs.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services Winner
- Real CPAs/EAs handle complexity end-to-end.
Integrated e-file & state returns
- Atamatax
- PDF package today; e-file Q3 2026. Federal-only in v1.
- Greenback Expat Tax Services Winner
- Preparer files federal and state for you.
The marked column indicates which product handles the feature more completely as of June 2026. We update this page when their offering changes — tell us if it's out of date.
Bottom line
If you want a credentialed human to take the whole return off your plate — or your situation is genuinely complex — Greenback is a solid done-for-you option. If you'd rather self-serve, want a transparent flat price, and want to see a complete PFIC / Form 8621 draft for free before paying, Atamatax is built for exactly that case.
Try it free
The draft is always free. You only pay when you finalise.
Start the wizard, see your real numbers, and decide from there.