Would You Benefit from Expat Tax Consulting?
Tax advisors prepare taxes, but they also provide additional valuable services that tax preparers do not. Advisors help their clients by offering strategies that (1) reduce their tax burden in the future, and (2) maximize income and retirement accounts, while keeping in touch during the year to see if the client’s situation has changed. Utilizing U.S. expat tax advice always pays off. Not only might you save a significant amount of money on your taxes, but you also will benefit from our professional financial guidance throughout the year and well into the future.
Individuals who typically consult a U.S. expat tax advisor are those expatriates who have complicated financial circumstances, self-employment income earned abroad, foreign investments and assets, and more. Plus, expats who experience major life changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth or adoption of a child, or those who inherit, financially support a dependent, change jobs or buy or sell a home while overseas would be well-advised to contact an experienced expat tax advisor at Expat CPA.
What Consulting Services Do We Offer?
Expat Tax Planning
How will living abroad affect your tax liability? Factors to consider include the length of vacations in the U.S., the structuring of dividends and other distributions, opening and contributing to IRAs, whether your spouse remains in the U.S. or relocates with you, and whether your spouse continues to work. Our CPAs are happy to provide expatriate tax consulting about the implications of these and other decisions.
Tax Projections
How will an increase in income, a change in your filing status, a real estate transaction, purchase or sale of stock, an extended but temporary stay in the U.S., and other alterations in your life affect your tax liability down the road? Let our international tax advisors analyze your situation and advise you about your potential tax liabilities and any alterations you can make now to reduce your future tax bills.
Tax Return Review
Who prepared your past expat tax return(s)? Did you do it yourself? Did a tax firm without expertise in international taxes do it for you, and you’re doubtful about the result? Let the knowledgeable CPAs at Expat CPA review your past returns and file an amended return, if necessary, to add deductions or credits, file forms that were omitted, or correct mistakes on returns filed within the last three years.
Why Expat CPA for Individual Consulting
Living abroad can create tax questions that are not always easy to answer with standard tax preparation alone. Expat CPA provides individual consulting services to help Americans overseas make informed tax decisions year-round, so they can potentially lower their tax burden.
Many American expats trust us with their tax matters for the following reasons:
- Decades of experience: Since 1994, we have advised Americans living around the world on expatriate tax issues. We have experience helping clients report FBAR and FATCA as well as claim FEIE and the FTC.
- Certified public accountants: Our U.S.-based CPAs provide personalized guidance for individuals with straightforward or complex international tax situations.
- Big 4 accounting experience: Many of our tax professionals previously worked at major international accounting firms and bring extensive experience with cross-border tax matters.
- Secure remote service: Our online process allows expats around the world to consult with our team and securely share the information needed to evaluate their situations.
Whether you are planning a move overseas, considering a change in investments, reviewing foreign reporting obligations, or trying to understand how a major financial decision may affect your taxes, Expat CPA can provide guidance tailored to your circumstances.
How Our Expat Tax Consulting Process Works
Expat CPA makes the tax consulting process as straightforward as possible for Americans living abroad. Our goal is to give you clear guidance, accurate analysis, and ongoing support throughout the year.
The process begins with a free initial consultation to discuss your situation, identify your concerns, and determine which consulting services may be appropriate. If you decide to move forward, you can securely upload relevant tax documents and financial information through our client portal.
You will then work with a dedicated CPA tax advisor who provides guidance based on the service you need.
- For expat tax planning, your advisor can help you understand how decisions involving residency, time spent in the U.S., investments, retirement contributions, or a spouse’s work and location may affect your taxes.
- For tax projections, your CPA can estimate how future income, filing status changes, investment transactions, or other financial events may affect your tax liability and identify planning opportunities.
- If you request a tax return review, your advisor can examine previously filed returns for potential errors, missed credits or deductions, or omitted international forms and recommend amendments when appropriate.
Your CPA will then review the findings with you, explain the analysis, answer questions, and outline any recommended next steps. Expat CPA can also assist with amended returns, future tax planning, or other follow-up needs.
Pricing and Return Preparation Options
Expat CPA offers straightforward pricing for both individual consulting and expatriate tax return preparation.
Individual consulting is $125 for 30 minutes, giving you access to an experienced expat tax professional who can help with tax planning, projections, prior return reviews, and other international tax questions. If Expat CPA is completing your basic federal tax return, you will also have one hour of individual consulting that’s included in the flat rate.
Expat CPA charges a low flat fee for basic U.S. expatriate federal and state returns, with additional forms priced separately when your situation requires them. Current pricing includes:
- U.S. Expat Federal Tax Return: $389, including Forms 1040 and 2555 plus one hour of indivdual consulting
- U.S. Expat State Tax Return: $189, when applicable
- Schedule A (Itemized Deductions): $100
- Schedule B (Interest and Dividends): $60
- Schedule C (Self-Employment): $165
- Schedule D (Capital Gains): $100
- Schedule E (Rental and Passive Income): $165
- FBAR (FinCEN Form 114): $119
- FATCA (Form 8938): $150
- Foreign Tax Credits (Form 1116): $165
- Foreign Corporation (Form 5471): $699
This structure allows you to pay only for the forms and services required for your tax situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Expat Taxes
How much does it cost to see a tax consultant?
The cost of tax consulting depends on the firm, the length of the consultation, and the complexity of your situation. At Expat CPA, individual consulting is $125 for 30 minutes. One hour of individual consulting is included in the flat-rate federal return fee.
Do U.S. citizens have to pay U.S. taxes while living abroad?
U.S. citizens generally remain subject to U.S. tax rules on their worldwide income even when they live in another country. Whether you actually owe U.S. income tax depends on your income, deductions, credits, and available expatriate tax provisions.
Do green card holders have to file U.S. taxes while living abroad?
Generally, yes. A lawful permanent resident is usually treated as a U.S. tax resident and must report worldwide income even while living outside the United States. Green card status generally continues for U.S. tax purposes until it is formally abandoned, revoked, or otherwise terminated. Taxpayers who abandon long-term permanent resident status may also face additional expatriation reporting requirements.
When are expat tax returns due?
Calendar-year taxpayers generally have an April 15 federal filing deadline. Qualifying U.S. citizens and resident aliens living abroad receive an automatic two-month extension, typically until June 15. An additional extension to October 15 may be available by filing Form 4868. However, extensions to file generally do not extend the time for calculating interest on unpaid tax from the regular due date.
What are the streamlined filing compliance procedures?
The streamlined filing compliance procedures may help taxpayers correct past U.S. tax and foreign account reporting failures when those failures resulted from non-willful conduct. Qualifying taxpayers living abroad generally submit the most recent three years of delinquent or amended tax returns, six years of required FBARs, and a signed certification explaining their eligibility and non-willful conduct. Tax and applicable interest must also be paid.
How Expat CPA Can Help
At Expat CPA, we fully understand expat tax preparation and planning because that’s all we do. Beyond hiring our experienced, skilled CPAs to prepare your tax return, you should seriously consider taking advantage of our ability to analyze your unique situation — past, present and future — to optimize your tax situation. If you are curious about any of our services or which tax documents we can help you file, contact us today!