A Complicated U.S. Tax Life: Foreign Spouses And Community Property

When love crosses borders, tax complexity often follows. I know this from first-hand experience having married a Swiss national almost 4 decades ago.  When U.S. citizens marry foreign nationals who are not U.S. tax residents a host of U.S. tax rules can upend marital bliss by causing tax compliance complexities that are often difficult to … Continue reading A Complicated U.S. Tax Life: Foreign Spouses And Community Property

Exciting Update: Revamped US Tax Primer for Expats & Global Citizens + Must-Watch YouTube Interviews!

Hello subscribers, global go-getters, expats, and anyone navigating the maze of US taxes abroad! I've got some exciting updates that'll make your financial life smoother and your dreams of living overseas a whole lot less taxing. First, I just rolled out a complete refresh of my flagship US Tax Primer for American Expatriates Worldwide and … Continue reading Exciting Update: Revamped US Tax Primer for Expats & Global Citizens + Must-Watch YouTube Interviews!

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

Leaked Memo Includes Major Tax Reform And Impacts U.S. Persons Abroad

A recently leaked memorandum discussed by JD Supra, has revealed potential tax reform under discussion in the U.S. House of Representatives. These share some key elements with President Donald Trump’s tax reform proposals, reflecting a coordinated effort to implement significant change.  The leaked information contains changes that could reshape the tax obligations of U.S. persons … Continue reading Leaked Memo Includes Major Tax Reform And Impacts U.S. Persons Abroad

Offshore Investments, U.S. Tax Traps: What Every American Must Know

Navigating the labyrinth of overseas investments can be particularly challenging for American investors. The landscape is often littered with enticing sales pitches from expat investment advisors who, more often than not, lack a deep understanding of U.S. tax laws. While it’s true that investments in certain offshore jurisdictions might not incur local taxes, significant and … Continue reading Offshore Investments, U.S. Tax Traps: What Every American Must Know

To Amend or Not to Amend – That is the Question

Discovered an error in a prior year’s tax return? Everyone is busy preparing US tax returns for 2023.   Taxpayers should note that thorough preparation of the current year’s tax return should include a review at least, of the return filed for the prior tax year. (Taxpayers using new return preparers should be wary if … Continue reading To Amend or Not to Amend – That is the Question

“Qualified Dividend Income”: How do the Rules Apply to “Controlled Foreign Corporations?” (Part I)

Today’s post continues to explore the interplay between foreign corporations and the US shareholder’s ability for lower tax rates available only for "qualified dividends".  It's a complicated topic. Not all dividends are treated the same and the nuances can make a big difference to the taxpayer’s ultimate investment return. As detailed in my earlier blog … Continue reading “Qualified Dividend Income”: How do the Rules Apply to “Controlled Foreign Corporations?” (Part I)

IRS E-Filing Plan: No Solution for the Overseas American

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been examining the possibility of a direct e-filing system. Can you imagine that bypassing tax preparation software or return preparers and direct filing with the IRS may be on the horizon? The IRS’s contemplated plan would enable users to directly prepare and file their tax returns with the U.S. … Continue reading IRS E-Filing Plan: No Solution for the Overseas American

Am I Being Cynical? Serious Problems Acknowledged -Too Little, Too Late for Taxpayers Outside the US

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) recently released its 2022 report to Congress.  In one portion of the Report (listed in “Most Serious Problems Encountered by Taxpayers” #10 OVERSEAS TAXPAYERS: Taxpayers Outside of the United States Face Significant Barriers to Meeting Their U.S. Tax Obligations) TAS provided a succinct review of the problems faced by American … Continue reading Am I Being Cynical? Serious Problems Acknowledged -Too Little, Too Late for Taxpayers Outside the US

Overseas Americans: Fast Facts About Amending a US Income Tax Return

Soon enough thoughts will turn to preparing US tax returns for 2022.  Thorough preparation should at least include a review of the tax return filed for the prior tax year. In doing this, it often happens that taxpayers discover an error occurred in filing a prior year’s return.  If an error is discovered, it may … Continue reading Overseas Americans: Fast Facts About Amending a US Income Tax Return