Do I need to report income earned abroad?

Yes, US persons are required to report worldwide income. A salary in Russia, rent from an apartment in Ukraine, dividends from foreign companies — all of it goes on the 1040. You can apply the FEIE ($126,500 exclusion for earned income) or the Foreign Tax Credit to avoid double taxation.

What if I had foreign bank accounts?

If the total balance of your foreign accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) — a form separate from the 1040. Also, if your specified foreign financial assets exceeded $50K ($100K for married filing jointly), you need Form 8938 as an attachment to the 1040. Penalties for non-filing run $10K-$100K+.

Can I file the 1040 together with my state return?

Yes, federal + state are usually filed together. Most states use federal AGI as their starting point. If you live in California, Form 540 is filed alongside the 1040. In Texas / Florida / Washington there is no state income tax, only federal. Multi-state situations (working in one state, living in another) use partial-year residence forms.

How much does 1040 preparation cost?

From $200 for a simple W-2 return up to $700 for a complex one with foreign income, multiple investments, rental properties, or self-employment. The exact price comes after the consultation, once the scope is clear. Multi-state is +$75 per additional state. FBAR is +$75-100 per account.

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

1040 Return Preparation

Form 1040 for Immigrants and US Citizens

Preparation of federal + state tax returns for US persons. Worldwide income, foreign income exclusion (FEIE $126,500), foreign tax credit, and every available deduction and credit.

Schedule your preparation

1040 filing deadline· April 15

312d:

05h:

36min:

06sec

Extension deadline· October 15

130d:

05h:

36min:

06sec

What Form 1040 Is and Who Must File It

Form 1040 is the main US tax return for individuals. It is filed by US citizens, Green Card holders, and immigrants who have met the substantial presence test (183+ days under the weighted formula). The key point: it taxes ALL of your worldwide income, even income earned abroad. A salary in Russia, dividends in a Ukrainian account, proceeds from selling an apartment in Belarus — all of it must be on your US return. There are tools to reduce your tax: the FEIE (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, $126,500 in 2026) excludes foreign earned income, and the Foreign Tax Credit credits taxes paid abroad. Treaty benefits apply when there is a tax treaty between the US and your country of origin. For Russian-speaking immigrants, this is critical: correctly reporting foreign accounts (FBAR), foreign pensions, foreign trusts, and foreign companies (Form 5471 / 8865). Mistakes mean huge penalties.

How I Prepare Your 1040

A full cycle from consultation to e-file. 1-3 weeks depending on complexity.

Free 30-minute consultation

We discuss your situation: residency status, sources of income, whether you have foreign income or accounts, and your family makeup. I define the scope of work and the price.

Document collection

I send you a secure client portal where you upload: W-2s from employers, 1099s (interest, dividends, contractors), brokerage statements, mortgage interest, charitable receipts, foreign income statements, and child care expenses. A checklist helps make sure nothing is missed.

Return preparation

I prepare Form 1040 plus all the necessary schedules (Schedule A for itemized deductions, Schedule B for interest/dividends >$1,500, Schedule C for self-employment, Schedule E for rental, Form 2555 for FEIE, Form 1116 for foreign tax credit, and FBAR if you have foreign accounts >$10K).

Review with you

I send the draft return for your review through the secure portal. I explain every figure, answer your questions, and make corrections if needed. We agree on the final version together.

E-file and confirmation

You sign the Form 8879 e-signature, and I file the return electronically with the IRS. Within 24-48 hours you receive an e-acknowledgement. If you're due a refund, it arrives in your account in 2-3 weeks. If payment is due, you get a payment voucher with instructions.

Have foreign accounts?

If you have accounts outside the US with a balance >$10,000 (even for a single day during the year), an FBAR is required. I file it alongside the 1040 →

FAQ — Form 1040

Key questions about 1040 preparation for immigrants

April 15 of the following year. For example, for tax year 2025 it's by April 15, 2026. You can get an extension (Form 4868) until October 15, but this is an extension to file only — the tax must be paid by April 15. US citizens living abroad have an automatic 2-month extension until June 15.

Ready to file your 1040?

Schedule a 30-minute consultation. We'll define the scope, give you an exact price, and start the preparation.

Schedule a consultation