50,000+ clients worldwide
Trusted by American retirees in 190+ countries
20+ years of experience
Specialized in retiree tax filing and US expat returns – Social Security, pensions, and cross-border filings
Exceptional accuracy
Every return is prepared and reviewed by seasoned tax advisors
Retiring overseas doesn’t end your US tax obligations. As a US citizen, you remain subject to US filing rules – wherever you live, and whatever your income looks like.
Social Security, 401(k) and IRA withdrawals, US pension income, and annuities all remain relevant to your US tax return even when you live overseas.
UK SIPPs, Australian superannuation, Swiss mandatory pensions, and Canadian RRSPs each carry specific US reporting requirements beyond the standard annual return.
An IRS letter, new interest income from savings accounts, a bank FATCA notice, or a new financial account can re-trigger a filing obligation you thought no longer applied.
Before the move, a CPA can map your Social Security timing, retirement account strategy, property sale implications, and how the tax treaties affect your taxes.
Most retired Americans abroad do not pay taxes on the same retirement income twice – but the outcome depends on your country of residence, income type, and how your return is structured.
“Managing Social Security, pension income, and foreign accounts from overseas has become more than I want to handle alone.”
“I need to know my Social Security and pension won’t be taxed in full by two countries.”
“I have a retirement account abroad and I’m not sure what needs to be reported or how the growth is treated.”
“I stopped filing when my Social Security was below the threshold. Then I got an IRS notice.”
“I’m moving abroad in a year and want to map the tax implications before I go.”
CPA-led preparation of your US federal return, covering Social Security, pension income, IRA and 401(k) distributions, Roth IRA withdrawals, investment income, and the foreign tax credits and treaty provisions that may apply to your situation.
For retirees abroad who discover they’ve missed years of US tax returns, the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure offers a penalty-free path back to compliance. TFX has completed 2,200+ of these submissions.
Retirees with foreign bank accounts, pension accounts, or other assets requiring foreign retirement account reporting must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114) each year if total balances exceed $10,000 at any point.
A one-on-one CPA session for retirees abroad – whether you’re planning the move or already there. Social Security timing, pension distribution strategy, foreign account implications, property decisions, and treaty optimization.
Retirees with foreign assets – pension accounts, savings, investments – above set thresholds must report them on Form 8938 under FATCA. Reporting a foreign pension on your US tax return under FATCA is a separate step from FBAR – we’ll assess your exposure.
Foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and pooled investments – as well as pension accounts such as a UK SIPP, Australian superannuation, or Canadian RRSP – may qualify as Passive Foreign Investment Companies, triggering Form 8621 reporting beyond a standard return.
If you’re planning to make a significant change to your citizenship status, your US tax filings generally need to be fully current first – including any outstanding returns and FBARs. We can get you compliant and guide you through the full process, step by step.
I live in the Philippines and write and direct audio soundtracks for commercials, radio, TV, and online videos. I’ve been using TFX since we moved here almost eight years ago. I’m a US-UK dual national, so my tax filing is fairly complex – I receive both U.S. Social Security and a UK pension, work locally and internationally, and my U.S. return has to account for taxes I pay in other countries too. I’m happy with the service I get from TFX – in fact, they’re the only online service I’ve ever used.
Recently retired and living in Australia, I’ve worked with TFX for a couple of years on my U.S. tax returns. Living in a foreign country and filing U.S. taxes is a bit tricky, made worse by the fact that I really hate doing tax returns – but TFX takes the pain out of the whole process. They’re knowledgeable, friendly, and take real ownership of getting the job done. I have no hesitation recommending TFX and am really glad to be working with them.
I’ve used Taxes for Expats for about nine years to complete my U.S. tax return. They’ve been absolutely excellent – their software has improved over the years and is now very easy to use, and it’s easy to communicate with the TFX team. I think they’re the easiest and best service for Americans abroad that I’ve come across. I’ll continue using them – they’re reasonably priced, and I can recommend them to anyone looking for a U.S. expat tax service.
After almost 23 years in Sweden – working in America for 30 years before moving, then working full-time in Sweden for 16 years before retiring in 2018, midway through the year – I had the first half of the year with work income and the second half with pension income from two different countries. Far too much for me to wrap my head around, so I needed help. I found Taxes for Expats, was very impressed, and have never left them since.
Originally from the UK and recently retired from the IT technology space, I started using TFX last year and had a really great experience. I had some old UK pensions that weren’t filing correctly, so I had to follow the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedure – refiling the last three years of returns and redoing FBARs for the last six years. It was a complicated, challenging process, but TFX made it extremely efficient and explanatory, giving me a lot of confidence that the issue had been cleaned up.
I live in the Philippines and write and direct audio soundtracks for commercials, radio, TV, and online videos. I’ve been using TFX since we moved here almost eight years ago. I’m a US-UK dual national, so my tax filing is fairly complex – I receive both U.S. Social Security and a UK pension, work locally and internationally, and my U.S. return has to account for taxes I pay in other countries too. I’m happy with the service I get from TFX – in fact, they’re the only online service I’ve ever used.
Recently retired and living in Australia, I’ve worked with TFX for a couple of years on my U.S. tax returns. Living in a foreign country and filing U.S. taxes is a bit tricky, made worse by the fact that I really hate doing tax returns – but TFX takes the pain out of the whole process. They’re knowledgeable, friendly, and take real ownership of getting the job done. I have no hesitation recommending TFX and am really glad to be working with them.
I’ve used Taxes for Expats for about nine years to complete my U.S. tax return. They’ve been absolutely excellent – their software has improved over the years and is now very easy to use, and it’s easy to communicate with the TFX team. I think they’re the easiest and best service for Americans abroad that I’ve come across. I’ll continue using them – they’re reasonably priced, and I can recommend them to anyone looking for a U.S. expat tax service.
After almost 23 years in Sweden – working in America for 30 years before moving, then working full-time in Sweden for 16 years before retiring in 2018, midway through the year – I had the first half of the year with work income and the second half with pension income from two different countries. Far too much for me to wrap my head around, so I needed help. I found Taxes for Expats, was very impressed, and have never left them since.
Originally from the UK and recently retired from the IT technology space, I started using TFX last year and had a really great experience. I had some old UK pensions that weren’t filing correctly, so I had to follow the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedure – refiling the last three years of returns and redoing FBARs for the last six years. It was a complicated, challenging process, but TFX made it extremely efficient and explanatory, giving me a lot of confidence that the issue had been cleaned up.
Trusted by retirees with US tax obligations worldwide – for annual tax filing, catch-up cases, and complex cross-border situations.
Social Security, foreign pensions, and retirement account reporting handled by CPAs.
We prepare and file your return and required reporting, handling the process from start to finish.
Generally yes, but it depends on your income sources and age. If you are 65 or older, single, and Social Security is your only income, no federal return is required. If you have other income in addition to Social Security – interest, dividends, pension distributions, rental income – you must file once that additional income exceeds the following thresholds for the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026): $17,550 for a single filer aged 65+; $33,100 for married filing jointly with one spouse aged 65+; $34,700 for married filing jointly with both spouses aged 65+. A portion of Social Security itself may also become taxable when your total provisional income exceeds $25,000 (single) or $32,000 (married filing jointly). A CPA will confirm your exact requirement.
It depends on your income sources, country of residence, and how your return is structured. TFX reviews your full income picture and applies every available tax credit, exclusion, or treaty provision during preparation.
It depends on your total income, your filing status, and whether a US tax treaty applies. Up to 85% of Social Security benefits may be subject to US federal income tax, based on your provisional income – which includes Social Security plus any other income sources. Some countries have treaties that affect how Social Security is taxed. A CPA will review your full income picture and apply the correct position.
It depends on the type of pension, your country of residence, and any applicable treaty. Foreign pension tax treatment varies significantly: some foreign pensions are taxable as ordinary income on the US return; others may be eligible for treaty-based deferral or exclusion. Reporting a foreign pension on your US tax return may also trigger separate FBAR or FATCA obligations beyond the income question. A CPA will confirm what applies to your specific pension before any preparation begins.
US disability income reported on a W-2 is treated as earned income and may be taxable. For foreign disability income, the key question is who paid the premiums: if you paid them yourself, payments are generally not taxable; if your employer paid them, they are generally taxable, since employers typically deduct the cost as a business expense. Any tax paid on disability income in your country of residence can be credited against your US liability. Social Security-type disability benefits are not eligible for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, though they may be subject to the same provisional income thresholds as Social Security retirement benefits.
Yes, if you hold foreign financial accounts – bank accounts, pension accounts, investment accounts – that collectively exceed $10,000 at any point during the year. The FBAR (FinCEN 114) is filed separately from your tax return and has its own annual deadline. Many retirees with foreign bank accounts and foreign pension accounts are required to file FBARs and may not realize it.
In most cases, yes. Foreign pension and retirement accounts typically require FBAR reporting if they exceed the threshold, and may also trigger FATCA (Form 8938) reporting depending on their total value. Some foreign pension structures may also require income reporting on annual growth or distributions, separate from the balance disclosure.
Yes. TFX prepares US federal tax returns for retired Americans in 190+ countries, covering Social Security, US and foreign pension income, IRA and 401(k) distributions, investment income, rental income, and all required foreign account reporting. The process is handled online through a secure portal, with a dedicated CPA assigned to your engagement.
This is more common than you might expect, and there is a defined path forward. If your Social Security income was previously below the filing threshold, you may have been correct not to file – but a new income source, higher interest rates, or a change in circumstances can re-trigger the obligation. Depending on your situation, you may qualify for the IRS amnesty programs, which allow eligible non-filers to get back to compliance, often – without penalties.
In most cases, yes – but it depends on your income type and your country of residence. The US allows retirees to apply foreign tax credits for taxes paid abroad and to benefit from relevant tax treaty provisions.
The exact list depends on your income sources, but commonly includes: SSA-1099 for Social Security income; 1099-R for US pension or retirement account distributions; statements for US bank and investment accounts; details of any foreign bank accounts, pension accounts, or investments (balances, account numbers, highest balance during the year); and any prior-year tax returns.
Book a free consultation, or create an account and start your tax questionnaire. We’ll take it from there.
