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Complex topics made simple — US taxes explained

FEIE 2026: Form 2555 deep dive — claiming the $130,200 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
US Expat Taxes
June 5, 202613 min read

FEIE 2026: Form 2555 deep dive — claiming the $130,200 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets US citizens and Green Card holders working abroad exclude up to $130,200 (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 another $20K-30K depending on city. 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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