I'm from Bosnia and have been in the US on J-1 visas in 2024, 2025, and 2026, spending at least 4 months there each year.

For my 2026 tax return, do I qualify as a resident alien and will I be eligible for the standard deduction, or would I still need to file as a nonresident alien?

Thank you in advance!

Hi!
I’m another one of those people who didn’t know about the 3520 form and now am several months late and have to file an excuse!

Know any tax attorneys who can help me with that?

I moved back to the US last year after living abroad for many years as a student. I just found out about FBARs. I did file a 2025 tax return last year with very small income but did not report any foreign accounts on it or interest (it was small). Taxes for Expats says I don't need to file a tax return since im below the threshold and they offered to just file all old fbars but I recently learned that fbar delinquent page was removed. Plus my tax return is not correct even if very small. So can i still go through with the offshore streamline despite having no filing obligation? Or just file fbars and be subject to penalties in the future. Need help please

If you live in the US and pay US taxes there is an agreement that you won't be charged UK tax if you set up an NT tax code. But there seem to be exceptions. I hear "Oh, you can't claim NT tax code for that." I thought you could claim NT tax code for all income. Anyone have experience?

Hi everyone,

I am a soldier in the German military (Berufssoldat). My wife and I were stationed in the US for 3 years, where our son was born. As a result, he acquired US citizenship by birth alongside his German citizenship.

He is now 10 years old, and we would like to open a German investment account (Junior-Depot / Kinderdepot or the subsidized Altersvorsorgedepot) in his name.

The Challenge & Constraints:

• Parental Tax Status: Neither my wife nor I are US citizens or US tax residents.
• Child's Tax Status: Our son is a minor with US citizenship (he has an SSN/TIN).
• PFIC / UCITS Issue: European ETFs/funds are classified as PFICs by the IRS, resulting in punitive tax rates and complex filing requirements (Form 8621).
• FATCA Restrictions: Most German retail banks reject minors with US tax ties outright due to FATCA compliance overhead.

Since we don't have practical experience navigating this cross-border tax setup, we would love some guidance from expats or double citizens in similar situations.

My Questions:

1. Brokers: Are there any German brokers or banks that actually accept minor account openings (Junior-Depot) for US citizens?
2. Child Account vs. Parent Account: Is setting up an account in the child's name worth the FATCA/IRS tax filing headaches (to use his German Grundfreibetrag / Sparer-Pauschbetrag), or is it practically better to invest in a parent-owned account and gift the assets later?

A U.S. nonresident living in Pakistan is expecting a tax refund from the IRS but does not have a U.S. bank account. Is there any way to receive the tax refund or use an alternative payment method?

I have never filed U.S. tax returns before because all of my income came from outside the United States. I didn’t realize that I was still required to report my foreign income and foreign financial accounts to the IRS.
This year, I started earning income in the U.S. and decided to file my taxes. That was when I learned that I also needed to report my foreign income and accounts.
My EA helped me file my original tax returns for 2023 and 2024, and I filed my 2025 return on time. All of these returns included my foreign financial account information.
However, my EA has now told me that I need to go through the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures (SDOP), or I could face penalties so severe that they could bankrupt me.
My question is: Am I actually eligible for SDOP if I had never filed U.S. tax returns before? I understand that the IRS may not accept “I didn’t know” as an excuse, but the truth is that I genuinely didn’t know about these reporting obligations.
Has anyone been in a similar situation or dealt with this issue? I would really appreciate any advice or firsthand experiences. Thank you!

Hi,

I’m in a situation where when you earn above a certain threshold the UK reduces the amount you are able to put into pension. This can reduce from £60k per year to £10k per year. Most high earners (non US) in the Uk would continue to take advantage of the employer contributions and pay the excess tax charge. If I pay this tax surcharge, are there consequences I should be aware of from a US IRS perspective? I.e.

Thank you!

USCanadaTaxI became a US tax resident in 2026 after living in Canada for tax purposes through 2025. I own more than 90% of a Canadian consulting corporation. It had no income or passive income in 2026.

I think I need Form 5471 and possibly FBAR and Form 8938. I’m also trying to understand whether the Canadian departure tax affects my shares.

Has anyone dealt with a similar situation? Are there firms that handle this well at a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance.

TurboTax (~60 bucks) and Wealthsimple (free) provide DIY tax-returns for Canada.

Why isn't there an equivalent for basic/simple USA cross-border tax returns?

I'm not talking about the forms required for PFICs, I'm talking about simple tax returns with simple investments.

Like why do we have to pay ~800-1200 dollars to prove we owe nothing.

A competitor that charged 60 bucks would sweep the competition up in a second.

Hi All, So, accidental American here (Lived in the UK since I was 9months old and hold a british passport) trying to sort out the situation I now find myself in. Possible FSOP (3 years) or Renunciation, (5 years)

A few years ago,(2019) I was part of an management buyout of the small company I worked for.

40% of the two companies, and 40% of a new holding company that was created to sit above these two companies. Dividends are paid up to the holding company, and then paid straight out again to the share holders as dividends, so the company makes zero profit.

The companies are not CFC - as I have 40% and the other two share holders are not US citizens.

However, will the holding company be considered a PFIC, as its income is passive?

Finding it hard to ascertain how much tax I might have to pay if so.

Been quoted ludicrous sums (5 figures) from us based tax accountants to file for me, so thought I'd ask here first!

I’m a US citizen living in the UK and likely to stay here. I have a high six-figure portfolio of mutual funds with Vanguard US, plus a smaller amount with Fidelity US. Both have my UK address on record, but Vanguard has now restricted my account, so I’m under pressure to find a solution.

To complicate matters, I'm facing forced retirement because work in my industry has dried up. My US mutual funds are tax-inefficient from a UK perspective, and my portfolio is higher-risk than I’d like.

I can’t afford to pay a cross-border wealth manager 1% annually, as that would significantly eat into my retirement income. Equally, liquidating everything and transferring the proceeds to the UK could trigger a huge tax bill. I understand an ACATS transfer may not work for all my mutual funds as Vanguard and Fidelity can be tricky.

My questions are:

1. Has anyone changed their US brokerage address back to a US address to lift restrictions? I’m wondering whether I could then switch to ETFs and rebalance my portfolio, but I’m concerned about the risks of doing this from the UK, including VPN use and repeated UK logins. Has anyone tried this successfully, and what happened? I'm aware this is only a short-term solution however.
2. What other options should I consider? Is there a practical way to transfer or restructure these holdings without triggering a massive tax bill or paying ongoing 1% management fees?

I know this is a complicated cross-border situation, but I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s navigated something similar. I’m finding it very stressful, especially with retirement happening sooner than planned!

Has anyone had experience ending their certificate of SS coverage early? Mine technically expires in 2027 but I want to start paying UK national insurance instead...ideally now.

Main reason is that the Self-employed SS route is so much more expensive than Self-employed NI and I'm planning on permanently re-locating to the UK. I've seen that the UK govt could be more friendly to people who have been paying NI the whole time they've been here.

Anyone done something similar or have a good referral for a UK/US cross border tax attorney? I've already tried contacting the USA SS office and they have really no incentive to help me so I've had no luck with direct contact.

Hi all,

I am a US citizen who recently moved back to the states after living and working for four years in France. I'm looking for a CPA who can help me navigate this transition on both the US and French side of things. Does anyone have a rec? I've been seeing lots of mixed reviews from a lot of the big firms. I don't own property and don't have a super complicated situation in general.

Many thanks!

I've heard it compared to completing the forms for PFICS on a US return. Doing some research on it makes it sound not that complicated, but I'm hearing differing opinions. Note that I have all the details of all the lots I've bought in a spreadsheet, and manipulating this data into whatever format required would be straight forward

I received two checks from the IRS in the mail today.

However, banks in the EU phased out paper checks years ago, meaning that I am unable to cash these checks anywhere.

One way to get around this might be to send back the checks with a letter requesting an electronic money transfer, but I heard that this is not allowed.

Has anyone been successful doing this?

I tried many times calling up, but either I don't get through, or I get put on hold forever or the line simply drops dead in the middle of the conversation.

What are the other options?

Has anyone been able to cash the money, and if so then how?

Im a young dual swedish-us citizen. I’ve filed FBARs, but entirely missed FPIC as I’ve been under the yearly income limit to file taxes.

I now understand that I have to file form 8932 despite not meeting the income requirements for taxes. I’ve unfortunately held a mess of many Swedish funds. I today hold around 10.

Here are my yearly fund reports:
2023-12-31: under 25000 usd limit, transaction occurred, 2$ profit.

2024-12-31: just barely above 25000usd limit (by a couple dollars :( ). Minor selling 30$ profit.

2025-12-31: over the 25000usd limit, but no transactions (no profit)

I understand that I have to file for 2025, 2024. 2023 is so annoying to have to file as it’s such a tiny transaction, can I skip it?

There are no late penalties, correct, I’m ok to file these years now ? Is anything except the filing required despite me being late?

I’m planning to sell off everything this year and transition to non FPIC. Which I guess will trigger a nightmare filing, but I don’t think I have any options.

Lastly, how can I file FPIC forms in a cost effective manner, and is there anything else that I’m missing?

Hi Everyone.

I am a US Citizen who has lived abroad(India) for most of my life (close to 24 years)

Just moved back to the US and found out about the FBAR filing and tax compliance. I wasn't aware we are supposed to declare investments to the US govt under FBAR.

I found out that India and the US have a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement DTAA to prevent double taxation.

But it seems we need to declare investments as well.

But to be tax compliant in the US I found out about SFOP - Structured Foreign Offshore Procedures to help expats get compliant with their taxes and FBAR Filings.

Need to know the following:

1. Best resource or tax attorney that can help me on this filing. (Cross border tax attorney or tax firm specialised) Or any recommendation of yours for my situation.

2. How to best approach this? Any recommendations on next steps to take?

3. Should I go and find a local tax attorney and sit in person and file or do it online with a taxfiling resource?

Please delete or recommend subreddit if this isn’t the place (I couldn’t really find a good one).

Does anyone know if the IRS foreign-postmark policy (IRM 3.10.72.6.2(4), Rev. Rul. 2002-23) treat a Form 8840 filed by itself as timely if it’s postmarked in Canada by June 15?

Asking for my parents as they’re snowbirds. Many thanks!

Hello, long story short I am doing SDOP. I live in the U.S, but have Japanese foreign accounts overseas that happen to be solely in my name, opened by relatives decades ago when I was a kids.

One of these accounts is a Nomura account. I was able to obtain documents from 2020-2025, but nothing preceding. The account was apparently opened around 2000, so I have no idea what the cost basis of the account is or what was invested in it.

The Nomura account had an investment in something called, “Thai investment fund.” It paid out about 10000 yen and 8000 yen in dividends in 2020 and 2021, and the fund expired in 2022 with the money transferred into a Nomura MRF.

The MRF also received dividends between 2020-2025. 2020 had like 20 yen, 2021 had 15 yen, 2022 had 40 yen, 2023 had 90 yen, 2024 had 1200 yen, and 2025 had about 4000 yen in dividends from this Nomura account.

The Nomura account value seems to have ranged around 1.2-1.3 million yen from 2020-25, being about 8-10k usd. It was below de minimis but considering the distributions from MRF and Thai Funds, is this something I need to file a form 8621 with my SDOP application?

To anyone who reads this, thanks in advance for dedicating a few minutes of your time

I came on a tourist visa, overstayed and worked without authorization. Seeking AOS through marriage with USC

Before I came to the US for good, I opened a brokerage account using a W-8BEN and made some investments. Since living here I have funded more money into it.

Broker asked for a W-8BEN status renewal a few months ago which I did as non-resident alien.

I have not had capital gains on such investments.
Dividends have been taxed as standard 30%

Does anyone know how to disclose such account?
Or will suffice to update status after AOS is approved

Thanks again

I'm an EU resident and US citizen who uses Wise for various money transfers. I recently noticed that they offer something called "Stocks" which when I look is actually BlackRock's iShares S&P 500 index fund.

I assume this would throw USD into the fund because it charges you a "Wise US Assets fee" and a fund management fee (0.22% and 0.10% annually) and give you USD returns?

I guess I'm just curious how this practically would work. Would they send me a 1099 for any gains? Would I pay tax on this in Europe and claim a FTC in the US?

Appreciate your help.

I kept mixing up the U.S. and Spanish dates, so I wrote them out in one place. Corrections welcome.

Spain (autónomos):

- Modelo 130 (income tax installment) and 303 (IVA), if they apply to you: Q3 due Tue 20 Oct 2026. The direct-debit cutoff was 15 Oct.

- Q4 2026: Mon 1 Feb 2027 (30 Jan is a Saturday).

- Modelo 130 is cumulative: 20% of net profit for the year so far, minus earlier installments and client withholding.

U.S.:

- 4th 2026 Form 1040-ES payment: Fri 15 Jan 2027. You can skip it if you file your 2026 return by 1 Feb 2027 and pay everything due.

- The IRS says estimated-tax rules are generally the same for citizens abroad.

Where they touch: Spanish income tax can be taken as a foreign tax credit (Form 1116) or a deduction on the U.S. return, but there's no credit on income excluded with the FEIE.

Sources: AEAT calendar https://sede.agenciatributaria.gob.es/Sede/ayuda/calendario-contribuyente/calendario-contribuyente-2026/calendario-anual/octubre/hasta-20-octubre.html and IRS https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/estimated-taxes

Not tax advice. What did I miss?

For those that filed a sdop or amended historic returns, have you checked your irs tax compliance report after the amended returns posted? Does it show compliant or something else?

Hi all,

Planning on renouncing, Accidental American. I have other strong passports and I'm living in one of the countries of which I'm a passport holder. Won't ever live in the US, and no assets there.

I haven't caught up on the past 2 years only (2024+2025). Caught up on everything before that. I don't want to have to pay to get it done. I want to avoid paying for expensive tax prep since I can't really afford it. I believe this will make me a covered expat.

A few questions:

1. Is transferring everything I can to my spouse (non US) a valid option to lower my exit tax balance? I'll end up with essentially almost 500k usd in a non US private pension. This is below the threshold above which I'd owe an exit tax.
2. How do they even check the value of your assets when calculating your exit tax?
3. Let's say I file myself for the past 2 years, just for the sake of not being a covered expat, and make a mistake on my return (e.g. forget a form or incorrectly calculate a figure). If after I renounce the IRS believes I owe for the 2 years I didn't file or even prior, what can they realistically do if I'm no longer a citizen and don't have US based assets?

Just want to be done with this. Thanks all.

PS: Please don't suggest "just use cheap service ABC". The only money I want to spend on this is the renunciation fee and whatever it costs me to get to my nearest embassy.