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14 Nov 2024

Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which retirement account is right for you?

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14 Nov 2024

IRS announces inflation-adjusted tax penalties for 2025

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12 Nov 2024

IRS announces e-filing shutdown for system update

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Featured reads
14 Nov 2024

Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which retirement account is right for you?

Read more
14 Nov 2024

IRS announces inflation-adjusted tax penalties for 2025

Read more
12 Nov 2024

IRS announces e-filing shutdown for system update

Read more
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Articles
Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA: Which retirement account is right for you?

Disclaimer ...
Nov 14, 2024

IRS announces inflation-adjusted tax penalties for 2025

The IRS has announced new inflation-adjusted tax penalties for 2025, impacting taxpayers, business...
Nov 14, 2024

IRS announces e-filing shutdown for system update

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has scheduled a temporary shutdown of its e-filing system for i...
Nov 12, 2024

IRS announces 2025 retirement contribution limits and adjustments

The IRS has released updated retirement contribution limits for 2025, covering 401(k)s, IRAs, SIMP...
Nov 12, 2024

Form 1040-V: Payment Voucher [who can file & how to file it]

When you file your federal income tax return, you may owe a balance due to the ...
Nov 12, 2024

What Trump’s second term means for taxes, economy, and foreign policy

Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House marks a pivotal moment in US policy, with plan...
Nov 11, 2024

What is double taxation: How it works & ways to avoid it

Disclaimer ...
Nov 08, 2024

IRS changes foreign gift and inheritance filing penalty assessments

The IRS has recently implemented significant changes in response to taxpayer and practitioner conc...
Nov 07, 2024

Unlocking paradise: The top tax-friendly havens for Americans retiring abroad

Retirement offers a golden opportunity to embrace new adventures, explore different cultures, and ...
Nov 06, 2024

2025 IRS inflation adjustments: Key tax changes and benefits for US taxpayers

The IRS has released its annual inflation adjustments for the 2025 tax year, which will affect a v...
Oct 31, 2024

Section 83(b) election: maximizing tax savings on stock-based compensation for startups and employees

Disclaimer ...
Oct 30, 2024

What to do if you can’t pay your taxes: consequences and potential options

While every American living abroad or stateside has to file an Individual Tax Return and pay the t...
Oct 23, 2024

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IRS 101
How to obtain a copy of past returns

Prior year transcripts - who to call, which forms to fill out, etc.
How IRS can find you abroad

A common misunderstanding is that US citizens abroad do not have to file tax returns
Expatriate tax audits

Audits are no fun, especially when the documents are not standard US tax forms; TFX can help
Tax penalties & interest

How the IRS computes tax, interest, and other penalties & what you can do to avoid them
Received IRS notice?

Scary IRS letters? We will help you debunk them and form an action plan to fix any issues
Can you e-file US tax return from abroad

TFX is an authorized e-file firm and e-files tax returns for taxpayers globally
How to pay IRS electronically from abroad

If you do have a tax bill, what are the ways you can pay the IRS?
How to file an amended return

We can amend prior filed returns to ensure you get the deductions & credits you are eligible for
IRS mailing addresses

In cases where E-filing is not permitted (IRS rules), we outline where and how to snail mail the returns
Can overseas Americans get an IRS refund?

Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Certainly, but your tax return needs to be optimized.
IRS statute of limitations

The IRS can’t chase you forever; we break down the rules behind the IRS statute of limitations
ITIN Q&A

What are ITINs, who needs one, how to get one, and when they expire
All IRS 101
Tax musings
Financial planning

Expat tax rules

FBAR/FATCA

News

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Non-US citizens

Retirement

Real estate

Foreign business

Immigration

Expatriation

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Recently published

Recently Published Articles
Foreign nationals

All tax musings
Tax concepts
Glossary of tax terms

Expatriate tax glossary. Commonly used terms explained
Definition of US tax terson

More complicated than it sounds. How ‘US Person’ is defined by the IRS and what it means to you
Resident & non-resident aliens

“Resident” can have many different meanings for the IRS.
Foreign bank account report: FBAR

FinCEN Form 114 and filing requirements explained. Who needs to file, when, and why?
Form 8938 (FATCA)

Filing requirements, penalties, and other considerations
FBAR vs form 8938

Financial reporting requirements explained
Foreign retirement accounts

How is your nest egg treated by the IRS? It depends on the country and the plan
Foreign income exclusion (FEIE)

Save over $100,000 on your US tax return with this nifty exlcusion. But, it’s complicated
Foreign tax credit (FTC)

How to avoid double taxation
Physical presence test

One of two ways to meet the Foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE)
Bona fide residence test

Second method to meet the Foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE)
Partial year exclusion

Moving overseas (inbound or outbound) midyear is not uncommon
All tax concepts
Expat tax 101
Why file

It’s the law. But, outside of legal reasons, many taxpayers may also benefit from refunds
Expat tax deadlines & due dates

There are many different deadlines & possible extensions - TFX can keep you abreast.
Minimum filing requirements

What are the minimum thresholds that trigger tax filing requirements?
Tax documents required

Which documents you may require in getting caught up to date on your tax returns
Do expats file state taxes?

It depends. State taxes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of expat tax.
Common tax forms

Thousands of tax forms exist, but which select few you really need to understand
Dependents & exemptions

How to understand these two terms & use them to your advantage to obtain tax refunds
Foreign spouse tax implications

How to understand these two terms & use them to your advantage to obtain tax refunds
Totalization agreements

Why these complex terms can mean a lot to self-employed individuals & digital nomads
Green Card holders

US tax filing requirements & credits specific to permanent residents
Surrendering citizenship or Green Card

Big life choice that also carries hidden tax implications & filing requirements
Social security survivor benefits

Will your non-US spouse be sble to receive survivor, dependent, or spousal benefits?
All expat tax 101
Who we help
Americans working abroad

US citizens & Green Card holders who are living and working outside the US
American educators abroad

TFX has partnerships with many international schools to assist their staff with tax filings
American contractors overseas

Contractor taxes contain many nuances, especially for potential state tax filing requirements
Employees of international organizations

Aid workers (& other staff) of the UN, EC, WHO or WB have many tax advantages and tax complexities
Pilots

Thx for keeping us safe in the sky! International pilot taxes are *almost* as complex as flying a jet
Military

Working in war zones or stationed abroad, TFX can help understand filing requirements
Digital nomads

Global citizens who earn a living without a permanent establishment
Retirees abroad

TFX files returns for American retirees globally & ensures their nest eggs are protected
Small business owners

We support entrepreneurs globally & explain how to make the most of your hard-earned earnings
Green Card holders

Permanent residency has tax implications - we explain what you need to know
Accidental Americans

Born with a U.S. citizenship but never filed tax returns? TFX can help.
Dual citizens with US passports

Multiple citizenship is in vogue! TFX explains your U.S. tax filing requirements
All who we help
Tax guides
Form 1040NR - non-resident alien tax return

Non-US citizens and Green Card holders who have U.S income and require filing tax returns.
Form 5471

Non-US corporations owned by US citizens and Green Card holders. Complex form debunked.
U.S tax guide for retirees

Retirees abroad enjoy sunshine & tax advantages. Our guide explains how to plan accordingly.
US tax guide for digital nomads

Remote work is booming and so is the nomad lifestyle; understanding tax implications is a must
U.S. contractor abroad tax guide

Contractors (especially military) have different tax treatment than normal employed expats
FBAR (FinCEN 114) & 8938 (FATCA) comparison

Financial reporting forms - similarities, differences, due dates, and more
U.S. missionary tax guide

Missionary tax treatment will vary based on country & presence of social security agreements
Tax reform 2017

Tax reform that reshaped much of the tax code: winners, losers, and business implications
IRS estimated payments guide

The IRS expects certain taxpayers to make payments before the deadline - learn how and why
All tax guides
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All country guides
IRS forms
Form 8832
Form 720
Form 5471
Form 3520
Form 709
Form 1116
Form 2555
FinCEN Form 114
Form 56
Form 8865
Form 8621
Form 1118
Form 8833
Form 3520-A
Forms 8805
Form 1040-B
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American expat
tax return

American expat tax return

What you need to know:

No matter where you reside — you must file.

No matter where you reside - you must file. All US citizens and Green Card holders must (if they meet minimum filing thresholds) file an annual tax return reporting their worldwide income.

Filing is required - but you likely won’t owe anything.

The good news is that most expats don’t end up paying any taxes to the IRS. There are a plethora of tax deductions which we will utilize that allow taxpayers to deduct more than $100,000 from their taxable income. But - in order to receive these generous exclusions and deductions - you must continue to file. Failure to do so can lead to penalties.

What’s different about expat returns?

The aforementioned deductions are not automatic. In order to benefit from the myriad of exclusions available - the Foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE), Foreign Tax Credit, Foreign Housing Exclusion, Treaty exclusions, and many more - your tax return must be prepared correctly and tax saving tools utilized properly.

Factoring self-employment complications, foreign pension treatment, treatment of employer contributions, taxability of foreign passive investment corporations, totalization agreements, and digging through the dense web of tax treaties, the world of expat taxes is difficult and can make the most astute of regular CPAs throw their hands up in defeat.

The greatest pediatrician in the world will still make for a pretty poor veterinarian.

How can we help

Expat tax return

At TFX we have been preparing expat returns for over 25 years and have clients in 175 countries. Complex as they may be, someone needs to understand them, and filing US tax returns for Americans all over the world is all we do, day in and day out - rain or shine.

Helpdesk

Aside from knowledge, convenience is key. Our clients rave about our best in class secure online portal and how TFX helps make the laborious task of filing taxes easier. We’re actually the top-rated expat tax firm ( with an average score of 4.8 on TrustPilot).

Tax preparation

We built an innovative tax preparation system that enables us to provide different tax-related services to our clients no matter where they live.

Experienced staff

Our fees are straightforward and unlike the Big 4 we do not hire junior staff. No outsourcing, no middle men: you’d be working directly with an experienced (our average age is 42) CPA or EA who will handle your case from beginning to end.