Specialty · International
Foreign tax matters, handled with care
If your life crosses a border — accounts back home, income earned abroad, family gifts, a foreign rental or pension — the US reporting rules are strict and the penalties can be steep. We make them manageable, without judgment.
We speak your language. Steve works with clients in English, Spanish and Portuguese, so you and your family can talk through cross-border tax questions in whichever language is most comfortable. Hablamos español. Falamos português.
Who we help
- US citizens and green-card holders living or working abroad
- Families in the US with bank, retirement or investment accounts in another country
- People who received a gift or inheritance from abroad
- Owners of foreign rental property, pensions, or mutual funds
- Anyone arriving in or leaving the US mid-year (dual-status years)
- Taxpayers who just learned they missed foreign reporting and want to fix it
What we handle
Foreign account reporting (FBAR and FATCA)
If the combined balance of your foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any point in the year, you generally must file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). Higher-balance taxpayers may also need Form 8938 with their return. The two overlap but are not the same — we file whichever you need, correctly and on time.
Foreign income: credit or exclusion
We compare the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555, including the housing exclusion) and choose the combination that leaves you better off — this year and in the years ahead.
Foreign gifts, inheritances and trusts
Large gifts or bequests from a nonresident individual or foreign estate aren’t usually taxable, but they may need to be reported on Form 3520 — and the late-filing penalties are significant. We also handle foreign trust reporting.
Foreign investments and companies
Foreign mutual funds and ETFs are often PFICs (Form 8621) with punishing default rules. Ownership in a foreign corporation or partnership can require Forms 5471 or 8865. We identify what you own and report it properly.
Residency, dual-status and treaty positions
We determine residency under the green-card and substantial-presence tests, prepare dual-status and nonresident (1040-NR) returns, and disclose treaty positions on Form 8833 when needed.
Catching up
Missed foreign filings? You are not alone, and there are established paths back into compliance — including the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures and delinquent FBAR and information-return submissions. We’ll help you choose the right one and handle it quietly and carefully.
Common questions
Do I need to file an FBAR?
Generally yes, if you are a US person and the total of your foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during the year — even for a single day, and even if no income was earned. The FBAR is filed electronically with FinCEN, separately from your tax return. Read our FBAR guide.
I haven’t been reporting my foreign accounts. What should I do?
Don’t panic, and don’t ignore it. If the failure was non-willful, the IRS offers streamlined and delinquent-submission procedures that are far less costly than waiting to be contacted. Book a confidential call and we’ll talk through your options.
Can you help if I live outside the United States?
Yes. We work entirely by secure portal and Zoom, so clients anywhere in the world can work with us — in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
Is money I received from family abroad taxable?
Gifts and inheritances from nonresident individuals are usually not taxable income to you, but amounts above the reporting threshold must be disclosed on Form 3520, and the penalties for missing it are significant.
Let’s make this year’s taxes the calm part.
Book a short introductory call. We’ll learn about your situation, tell you plainly how we can help, and give you a clear fee before any work begins.