Former IRS Leaders Endorse Residency-Based Tax For Americans Abroad

Nearly a year ago, in the waning days of the 118th Congress, Representative Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced a groundbreaking piece of legislation that sent ripples through the expatriate community and the international tax world: the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act (H.R. 10468). As I detailed in my earlier Forbes article, this bill represented a bold step … Continue reading Former IRS Leaders Endorse Residency-Based Tax For Americans Abroad →

Corporate ‘Loans’: The Debt v. Equity IRS Challenge And Tax Nightmares

Lenders who advance cash to corporations often do so with a clear expectation: the company will repay the principal and will pay interest, and the borrower will report interest income. Yet for U.S. taxpayers the moment of truth comes much later, sometimes years after the money has left the bank—when the IRS, or a court, … Continue reading Corporate ‘Loans’: The Debt v. Equity IRS Challenge And Tax Nightmares →

What Every American Overseas (or Dreaming of Living Overseas) Must Know 2025

Thinking of moving overseas, or already living abroad as an American? One thing you can’t escape is U.S. taxes. In this video, I sit down with Jahtna Hernandez to discuss the unique challenges Americans face under a citizenship-based tax system, and the key rules every expat, retiree, or digital nomad needs to know in 2025. … Continue reading What Every American Overseas (or Dreaming of Living Overseas) Must Know 2025 →

Why Pope Leo Can Skip FATCA, But Not FBAR

There has been a lot of discussion about the possible U.S. tax obligations for Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S. citizen Pope. Some of the assertions have generated confusion, leaving key U.S. tax concepts insufficiently addressed. One of the biggest areas of misunderstanding has been the Pope’s possible FBAR reporting (FinCEN Form 114) versus FATCA … Continue reading Why Pope Leo Can Skip FATCA, But Not FBAR →

Does Pope Leo XIV Have to File an FBAR? U.S. Citizenship and God’s Bank

Yesterday, the world welcomed Pope Leo XIV, a U.S. citizen, as the newly elected Pope, marking a historic moment for the Catholic Church. But amid the papal fanfare, a quirky tax question arises: could His Holiness need to file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) for the Vatican Bank’s accounts? It’s a … Continue reading Does Pope Leo XIV Have to File an FBAR? U.S. Citizenship and God’s Bank →

Foreign Stock Options: 6 Things American Expats Should Know

As more Americans take on international roles, stock options have become a key part of the expatriate executive’s compensation package, especially when working for foreign employers. These options offer exciting opportunities to benefit from a company’s growth, but they also come with complex U.S. tax implications that can catch the unwary off guard. Imagine you’re … Continue reading Foreign Stock Options: 6 Things American Expats Should Know →

Owning Real Estate Property Overseas: 9 Key U.S. Tax Issues

Purchasing or owning real estate property overseas can be an exciting investment opportunity, but for U.S. persons, it comes with significant tax and reporting obligations. Foreign persons becoming U.S. tax residents (e.g., obtaining a green card) may already own overseas properties and should be aware of the U.S. tax issues they will face at the … Continue reading Owning Real Estate Property Overseas: 9 Key U.S. Tax Issues →

Offshore Tax Evasion: U.S. Clients Of Trident Trust Target Of IRS John Doe Summons

The Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service have recently reaffirmed their strong commitment to pursuing offshore tax evasion through the use of powerful investigative tools. One such tool is the IRS John Doe Summons. On Dec. 23, 2024, the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York granted the IRS authority … Continue reading Offshore Tax Evasion: U.S. Clients Of Trident Trust Target Of IRS John Doe Summons →

Breaking! Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad May Become Reality

Representative Darin LaHood just introduced on December 18 the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act, aiming to modernize the US tax system for Americans living overseas. This proposal seeks to shift from the current citizenship-based taxation—which taxes US citizens on their worldwide income regardless of residence—to a residency-based system. The existing US tax framework has … Continue reading Breaking! Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad May Become Reality →

IRS Tax Records, Foreign Assets: When (And What) To Keep Or Toss

Many people face the dilemma of what to do with old tax returns and supporting paperwork, often wondering when it’s safe to discard them. However, determining the right time can be tricky, especially for taxpayers with foreign assets. Those with overseas financial interests must pay particular attention for several reasons, including expanded statutes of limitation … Continue reading IRS Tax Records, Foreign Assets: When (And What) To Keep Or Toss →