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Complex topics made simple — US taxes explained

FBAR and Form 8938 Thresholds for 2026
FBAR
October 9, 20268 min read

FBAR and Form 8938 Thresholds for 2026

One-page reference: the FBAR $10,000 test, Form 8938 thresholds by filing status, 2026 deadlines, penalty caps and a who-files-what table.

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ITIN: CAA vs Mailing Originals vs IRS TAC (2026)
ITIN
October 9, 20268 min read

ITIN: CAA vs Mailing Originals vs IRS TAC (2026)

Three ways to get an ITIN: a Certifying Acceptance Agent, mailing originals to the IRS, or an IRS TAC. Documents, dependents, video rules, timing.

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1040-NR vs 1040: Which Return for a US LLC Owner?
Taxes
October 9, 20268 min read

1040-NR vs 1040: Which Return for a US LLC Owner?

Residency status, not the LLC, decides between Form 1040 and 1040-NR: ECI vs FDAP, no-ECI LLCs that still file 5472, dual-status, deadlines, Form 8833.

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Form 5472 vs Form 5471: Which One Do You File?
Business
October 9, 20268 min read

Form 5472 vs Form 5471: Which One Do You File?

Form 5472 is for foreign-owned US companies, Form 5471 for US persons with foreign corporations. Who files, thresholds, deadlines, $25K vs $10K penalties.

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Moved to Another State Mid-Year: Where to File and How Much
State taxes
August 16, 20266 min read

Moved to Another State Mid-Year: Where to File and How Much

A plain-English guide to part-year residency: how many returns you file when you move between states, the two methods states use to figure your tax, and where you may end up filing two forms in one state.

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State Residency and IRS Residency Are Not the Same Thing
State taxes
August 16, 20265 min read

State Residency and IRS Residency Are Not the Same Thing

You can be a nonresident for the IRS and a resident of your state at the same time. Domicile, the 183-day rule, and why your visa status is no shield against state tax.

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New York Doesn't Let Go: 184 Days, Domicile, and How to Break Away
State taxes
August 16, 20267 min read

New York Doesn't Let Go: 184 Days, Domicile, and How to Break Away

The 184-day rule, the two sets of conditions for shedding New York domicile, and three taxes on top of the state one: the city, Yonkers, and the MCTMT.

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You Moved to Florida — and You Still Owe Your Old State
State taxes
August 16, 20266 min read

You Moved to Florida — and You Still Owe Your Old State

Why moving to a state with no income tax does not cancel what you owe the state you left, and which taxes you still pay in Florida, Texas and Nevada.

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Living in One State, Working in Another: How Not to Pay Twice
State taxes
August 16, 20267 min read

Living in One State, Working in Another: How Not to Pay Twice

Two state returns instead of one, the credit for taxes paid to another state, and why with remote work the deciding factor is not your address but the rules of your employer's state.

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Working in a Neighboring State: How to Skip the Second Return
State taxes
August 16, 20264 min read

Working in a Neighboring State: How to Skip the Second Return

Agreements between neighboring states let you pay income tax only where you live. Here is how they work, which form to give your employer, and where the agreement does not apply.

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Arizona: Nine Months in the State and You Are a Resident
State taxes
August 16, 20265 min read

Arizona: Nine Months in the State and You Are a Resident

Arizona presumes that anyone who spends more than nine months in the state during the year is a resident. Here is how the rule works, what the filing thresholds are, and what it means for snowbirds.

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Colorado: A Permanent Home Plus Six Months and You Are a Resident
State taxes
August 16, 20264 min read

Colorado: A Permanent Home Plus Six Months and You Are a Resident

The three grounds on which Colorado treats a person as a resident, plus the local tax on the privilege of working and the TABOR refund.

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Washington: Nine Signs the State Counts You as a Resident
State taxes
August 16, 20266 min read

Washington: Nine Signs the State Counts You as a Resident

Washington has no income tax, but it decides residency by nine indicators — and residency is what drives the capital gains tax and a credit worth up to $1,330.

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Students and State Residency: Why a Dorm Room Is Not a Permanent Place of Abode
State taxes
August 16, 20265 min read

Students and State Residency: Why a Dorm Room Is Not a Permanent Place of Abode

Studying in another state usually does not make a student a resident of it. A look at the rules in New York, Michigan and Pennsylvania, and the usual mistakes with withholding.

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IRS Audits: The Three Types, and Why Most of Them Are Just a Letter
IRS Problems
August 16, 202610 min read

IRS Audits: The Three Types, and Why Most of Them Are Just a Letter

The word “audit” frightens people more than the examination itself. I walk through the three types of IRS examination — correspondence, office, and field — explain why a CP2000 isn't an audit at all but an automated match, what actually triggers examinations, and the two letters you cannot miss: the 30-day letter and the Notice of Deficiency.

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Disagreeing With the IRS: How Appeals Works, and What Comes Next in Tax Court
IRS Problems
August 16, 202610 min read

Disagreeing With the IRS: How Appeals Works, and What Comes Next in Tax Court

You can dispute the IRS — there's an entire system built for it. The full route: the independent Office of Appeals and the concept of hazards of litigation, a small case request up to $25,000 versus a formal written protest, 90 days to petition Tax Court (150 from abroad), the difference between Tax Court, District Court, and the Court of Federal Claims, the simplified small tax case up to $50,000, and the separate CDP hearing track for collection.

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Wyoming or Delaware: Where a Non-Resident Should Form an LLC (and Why It's Not About Taxes)
Business Formation
August 7, 202610 min read

Wyoming or Delaware: Where a Non-Resident Should Form an LLC (and Why It's Not About Taxes)

I break down, step by step, which state a non-resident founder should choose for a U.S. LLC. Spoiler: since you don't live in the U.S., the choice of state is about your business's needs, not about "dodging taxes." Delaware is for venture capital and startups; Wyoming is for bootstrapped businesses, e-commerce, and privacy. Plus what matters equally in any state: an EIN without an SSN, a bank, Stripe, and the mandatory Form 5472.

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IRS Letters: What Each Notice Means — CP14, CP2000, CP504, LT11 and More
IRS Problems
August 7, 202611 min read

IRS Letters: What Each Notice Means — CP14, CP2000, CP504, LT11 and More

A reference catalog of common IRS notices: what each code means, how urgent it is, and what to do first. We break down CP14, CP2000, CP504, LT11/Letter 1058, Letter 3219, and ITIN letters — with real response deadlines.

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I Attended NAEA Tax Summit 2026: What It Means for You
Inside the Practice
August 7, 20268 min read

I Attended NAEA Tax Summit 2026: What It Means for You

Kateryna's personal account of the professional NAEA Tax Summit 2026 and the IRS representation track (NTPI): what I studied and why it directly affects my clients' peace of mind. Plus the launch of a new series, "IRS Problems."

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A Letter from the IRS Arrived: What to Do, Step by Step, Without Panic
IRS Problems
August 7, 202611 min read

A Letter from the IRS Arrived: What to Do, Step by Step, Without Panic

A letter from the IRS in your mailbox is frightening, but panic and silence are the worst strategy. I break it down step by step: how to tell a real letter from scammers, how to figure out the type and deadline (CP14, CP2000, CP504, LT11), and which three response options you have.

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Haven't Filed Taxes for Several Years? How to Calmly Come Out of the Shadows
IRS Problems
August 7, 202611 min read

Haven't Filed Taxes for Several Years? How to Calmly Come Out of the Shadows

If you live in the U.S. and haven't filed tax returns for several years, this is a common and solvable situation. We break it down step by step: why staying silent is risky, why filing roughly the last 6 years is usually enough, and how coming to the IRS first lowers your risk and opens the door to penalty relief.

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The IRS Filed Your Taxes for You (SFR): Why It Costs You More and How to Fix It
IRS Problems
August 7, 202610 min read

The IRS Filed Your Taxes for You (SFR): Why It Costs You More and How to Fix It

If you didn't file a return, the IRS can prepare one itself — through the SFR process, which leaves out your deductions, credits, and favorable filing status. We break down why this inflates your tax bill, what it can lead to, and how to replace an SFR with your own correct return, even after the amount has already been assessed.

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You Owe the IRS but Can't Pay: Payment Plans, OIC, and Other Legal Options
IRS Problems
August 7, 202611 min read

You Owe the IRS but Can't Pay: Payment Plans, OIC, and Other Legal Options

If the IRS has assessed a debt and you can't pay it all at once, hiding is not the answer — you have legal options. I walk you through them step by step: a short-term extension, an Installment Agreement, an Offer in Compromise, Currently Not Collectible status, and penalty relief — and how to tell which one fits your situation.

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IRS Transcripts: How to Read What the IRS Already Knows About You
IRS Problems
August 7, 202610 min read

IRS Transcripts: How to Read What the IRS Already Knows About You

An IRS transcript is a printout of your file at the tax agency: assessments, payments, penalties, statutes of limitations, and audit trails. Step by step, we break down what kinds of transcripts exist, how to get them, and what matters to look for before you argue anything with the IRS.

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IRS Statutes of Limitations: 3 Years, 10 Years, and When There's No Limit at All
IRS Problems
August 7, 202610 min read

IRS Statutes of Limitations: 3 Years, 10 Years, and When There's No Limit at All

I walk through the three key IRS clocks step by step — ASED (assessment), CSED (collection), and RSED (refund): where the 3 years and 10 years come from, when the window stretches to 6 years, and when it never starts at all. And why all of this shows up in your transcript.

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Federal tax lien: what it is and how to get the IRS's lien off your property
IRS Problems
August 7, 20269 min read

Federal tax lien: what it is and how to get the IRS's lien off your property

A federal tax lien is the government's security interest in all of your property when you owe the IRS and don't pay. I explain in plain language how a lien differs from a levy, why the public NFTL record is dangerous, and the legal ways to remove or ease a lien: release, discharge, subordination, withdrawal — plus your right to a CDP hearing within 30 days.

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Innocent Spouse Relief: How Not to Be Liable for Your Spouse's Tax Debts
IRS Problems
August 7, 202610 min read

Innocent Spouse Relief: How Not to Be Liable for Your Spouse's Tax Debts

On a joint return (MFJ), the IRS can pursue the entire tax debt from either spouse — even after divorce. I break down what Innocent Spouse Relief (IRC §6015) is, its three types, how to request it with Form 8857, and how it differs from Injured Spouse.

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I Paid $4,000 for a Course: "Open an LLC in Wyoming and Pay No Taxes." Here's What Went Wrong
Myths & Mistakes
August 7, 202611 min read

I Paid $4,000 for a Course: "Open an LLC in Wyoming and Pay No Taxes." Here's What Went Wrong

A real story: a woman paid $4,000 for a course that promised "register an LLC in Wyoming and forget about taxes." I explain why this doesn't work for someone who actually lives and works in the U.S. — and what the scheme really ends up costing.

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LLC vs C-Corp for Non-Resident Founders: Which US Entity to Form in 2026
Business Formation
July 6, 202613 min read

LLC vs C-Corp for Non-Resident Founders: Which US Entity to Form in 2026

A non-resident founder's choice between a US LLC and a C-Corp isn't about your passport — it's about whether you'll raise VC. LLC = cheap, pass-through, personal 1040-NR filing (and, for a single-member LLC, mandatory Form 5472). C-Corp = flat 21% tax, the company files, VC-ready. Full 2026 breakdown with a decision rule.

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ITIN vs SSN in 2026: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?
Immigrant Tax Basics
July 6, 202612 min read

ITIN vs SSN in 2026: What's the Difference and Which One Do You Need?

Every immigrant and non-resident hits this question: ITIN or SSN? One is issued by the Social Security Administration for work; the other by the IRS purely for taxes. We break down what each number does, who qualifies, how to apply, and give you a one-line decision rule — plus how a CAA lets you avoid mailing your passport to the IRS.

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Trump Accounts: The New $1,000 Child Savings Account (What Immigrant Families Need to Know)
Family & Savings
July 6, 202610 min read

Trump Accounts: The New $1,000 Child Savings Account (What Immigrant Families Need to Know)

The OBBBA created a brand-new tax-advantaged investment account for kids under 18 with a Social Security Number, plus a $1,000 federal seed for eligible newborns. Here is who qualifies, how much you can contribute, how the money is taxed, and the critical SSN-vs-ITIN catch for immigrant families.

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Why US Taxes Are So Complex — and What Mistakes Actually Cost
Taxes
June 9, 20267 min

Why US Taxes Are So Complex — and What Mistakes Actually Cost

The US tax code runs over 1 million words — about 4 million with regulations — and changes almost every day. Here's why, and what common mistakes really cost, from late-filing penalties to FBAR.

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FEIE 2026: Form 2555 deep dive — claiming the $132,900 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
US Expat Taxes
June 5, 202613 min read

FEIE 2026: Form 2555 deep dive — claiming the $132,900 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets US citizens and Green Card holders working abroad exclude up to $132,900 (2026) of foreign earned income from US federal tax. To qualify, you pass either the Bona Fide Residence Test or the Physical Presence Test. Add the Housing Exclusion / Deduction and you can shield up to another $18,606 at the standard 2026 cap, more in high-cost cities. This article covers eligibility, the two tests, Form 2555 mechanics, the housing layer, when FEIE costs you a tax credit, and the strategic interplay with the Foreign Tax Credit.

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Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures: how US expats fix years of missed returns without crushing penalties
US Expats
June 5, 20268 min read

Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures: how US expats fix years of missed returns without crushing penalties

Many US citizens abroad don't know they have to file every year. By the time they find out, they're 3-5-10 years behind. The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures are the official amnesty: catch up on 3 years of returns and 6 years of FBAR with zero penalties (Streamlined Foreign Offshore) or 5% (Streamlined Domestic). Walkthrough of eligibility, Form 14653, what 'non-willful' really means, and when to use Streamlined vs Voluntary Disclosure.

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FTC vs FEIE — which tool to pick for US expat taxes in 2026
US Expat Taxes
June 5, 202611 min read

FTC vs FEIE — which tool to pick for US expat taxes in 2026

Both the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) prevent double taxation for US citizens abroad — but they work very differently and pick the wrong tool and you can lose thousands of dollars per year. This article walks through when each wins, the dual-use combination, the 5-year revocation rule, and concrete worked examples for low-tax (UAE) vs high-tax (Spain) destinations.

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Filing 1040 from Abroad: the June 15, October 15, and December 15 deadlines US expats need to know
US Expats
June 5, 20266 min read

Filing 1040 from Abroad: the June 15, October 15, and December 15 deadlines US expats need to know

US citizens and Green Card holders living abroad get extra time to file — but most generalist accountants miss the rules. The automatic June 15 extension, the standard Form 4868 to October 15, the discretionary December 15 for taxpayers abroad, plus combat-zone suspensions. Plus the trap that catches everyone: filing extensions never extend the payment deadline.

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FBAR vs Form 8938: two reports, different rules, both can apply (US expat compliance guide)
US Expats
June 5, 20266 min read

FBAR vs Form 8938: two reports, different rules, both can apply (US expat compliance guide)

FBAR (FinCEN 114) and Form 8938 (FATCA) are two different foreign-asset reports with overlapping but distinct rules. Many US expats file one and miss the other. Side-by-side comparison: thresholds, filing destinations, asset types, penalties, deadlines. Plus a checklist of who needs what.

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Totalization Agreements: how US expats avoid paying double Social Security tax abroad
US Expats
June 5, 20265 min read

Totalization Agreements: how US expats avoid paying double Social Security tax abroad

If you're a US citizen self-employed abroad, you owe 15.3% US Self-Employment tax on top of the foreign social security you're already paying. Totalization Agreements let you opt out of one or the other. The US has 30+ such agreements. How to claim, how to prove, and which countries are covered.

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PFIC and Form 8621: why foreign mutual funds are a US tax trap for expats
US Expats
June 5, 20267 min read

PFIC and Form 8621: why foreign mutual funds are a US tax trap for expats

If you bought a mutual fund in Portugal, Germany, UK, or any country abroad, you probably own a Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) — a category US tax law penalizes hard. Default treatment can tax gains at 39.6% plus interest charges. Form 8621, QEF election, mark-to-market election, and how to avoid PFICs entirely.

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Renouncing US Citizenship: Exit Tax, Form 8854, and the financial math of giving up the passport
US Expats
June 5, 20268 min read

Renouncing US Citizenship: Exit Tax, Form 8854, and the financial math of giving up the passport

If you're a US citizen or long-term Green Card holder considering renunciation, the IRS Exit Tax (IRC §877A) can be a brutal final bill. Mark-to-market on all assets, deemed-realized gains taxed at full rates, special rules for retirement accounts and trusts. Eligibility for the $890K (2026) exclusion, who counts as a 'covered expatriate,' and the Form 8854 mechanics.

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History of LLC: Why Wyoming is the birthplace of the Limited Liability Company
History & Law
May 20, 202612 min read

History of LLC: Why Wyoming is the birthplace of the Limited Liability Company

In 1977 Wyoming became the first jurisdiction in the world to pass an LLC act — for a single oil company. Today the US has 21+ million LLCs, and Wyoming remains the best state for non-residents. The full history from the first statute to DAO LLC.

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Delaware vs Wyoming LLC in 2026: Complete State Comparison
State Comparison
May 20, 202615 min read

Delaware vs Wyoming LLC in 2026: Complete State Comparison

The most common question from non-resident clients: "Wyoming or Delaware?" We break down both states across 12 criteria: cost, speed, taxes, banking, anonymity, court system. With real 2024 numbers and a decision matrix.

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FBAR — what it is and who must file
FBAR
March 12, 20265 min

FBAR — what it is and who must file

If you have foreign accounts with a combined balance over $10,000 — you must file an FBAR. We explain who, when, and how.

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Taxes for freelancers in the US: complete guide
Freelance
March 5, 20268 min

Taxes for freelancers in the US: complete guide

Self-employed? Receiving 1099s? We break down self-employment tax, quarterly payments, and how to legally reduce your taxes.

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LLC vs S-Corp: which to choose for your business
Business
February 25, 20266 min

LLC vs S-Corp: which to choose for your business

At what income level is S-Corp better than LLC? We compare tax burden, administrative requirements, and when to switch structures.

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Kateryna Dzhevaga·IRS CAA · Authorized IRS e-file Provider·Federal practice (all 50 states)·EN · RU · UK

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