Mel Whitney — Author at Taxes for Expats (Page 2)

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At TFX we've been doing taxes for U.S. expats for over 25 years
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Expat taxes are complicated. Seriously.
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Featured reads

Mar 19, 2025

How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property

Mar 13, 2025

Full guide: FBAR filing requirements and deadlines in 2025

Jan 28, 2025

Understanding the foreign tax credit: A comprehensive guide for US taxpayers abroad

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US expat tax return
No matter where you reside — you must file US tax returns
Streamlined procedure
No matter where you reside — you must file US tax returns
Non-resident tax preparation
TFX helps non-US aliens or Green Card holders file returns
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Selling stocks? New job? Make educated financial decisions
Substantial presence test calc
Easily determine your US tax residency status

Expatriation
How to renounce citizenship or green card
Check my return
TFX can review your prior returns for errors
Amended tax return
We can re-file returns that need a little fixing up
Representation
TFX can call and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf

Form 5472
New filing requirements for foreign owners of U.S. LLC
Form 5471
To report ownership in Foreign Corporations
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Comprehensive FBAR and FATCA compliance services
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Articles

How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property

...
Mar 19, 2025

Full guide: FBAR filing requirements and deadlines in 2025

Whether you live in the US or abroad, if you hold an account in a foreign bank — whether sav...
Mar 13, 2025

Understanding the foreign tax credit: A comprehensive guide for US taxpayers abroad

Disclaimer ...
Jan 28, 2025

Foreign earned income exclusion - FEIE

Disclaimer ...
Jan 28, 2025

Capital gains taxes from selling foreign property: how to report and exclusions you can use

Disclaimer ...
Jan 14, 2025

What is FIRPTA? A guide for foreign sellers and US buyers

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Jan 10, 2025

FBAR penalties in 2025: Everything you need to know

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Jan 09, 2025

Section 83(b) election: maximizing tax savings on stock-based compensation for startups and employees

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Oct 30, 2024

Form 1040-NR: A comprehensive guide for nonresident aliens

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Oct 15, 2024

FBAR vs. Form 8938: Differences and pitfalls to avoid explained

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Oct 14, 2024

Maximizing tax savings with the Foreign Housing Exclusion

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Jul 04, 2024

The art and finesse of filing Form 8833: Exploring treaty-based return positions

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May 06, 2024

All articles

IRS 101

How to obtain a copy of past returns

Prior year transcripts - who to call, which forms to fill out, etc.

How IRS can find you abroad

A common misunderstanding is that US citizens abroad do not have to file tax returns

Expatriate tax audits

Audits are no fun, especially when the documents are not standard US tax forms; TFX can help

Tax penalties & interest

How the IRS computes tax, interest, and other penalties & what you can do to avoid them

Can you e-file US tax return from abroad

TFX is an authorized e-file firm and e-files tax returns for taxpayers globally

How to pay IRS electronically from abroad

If you do have a tax bill, what are the ways you can pay the IRS?

How to file an amended return

We can amend prior filed returns to ensure you get the deductions & credits you are eligible for

IRS mailing addresses

In cases where E-filing is not permitted (IRS rules), we outline where and how to snail mail the returns

IRS statute of limitations

The IRS can’t chase you forever; we break down the rules behind the IRS statute of limitations

ITIN Q&A

What are ITINs, who needs one, how to get one, and when they expire

All IRS 101

Tax musings

Financial planning

Tax saving strategies

Recently published

Recently Published Articles

Foreign nationals

Case studies

All tax musings

Tax concepts

Glossary of tax terms

Expatriate tax glossary. Commonly used terms explained

Definition of US tax terson

More complicated than it sounds. How ‘US Person’ is defined by the IRS and what it means to you

Resident & non-resident aliens

“Resident” can have many different meanings for the IRS.

Foreign bank account report: FBAR

FinCEN Form 114 and filing requirements explained. Who needs to file, when, and why?

Form 8938 (FATCA)

Filing requirements, penalties, and other considerations

Foreign retirement accounts

How is your nest egg treated by the IRS? It depends on the country and the plan

Foreign tax credit (FTC)

How to avoid double taxation

Physical presence test

One of two ways to meet the Foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE)

Bona fide residence test

Second method to meet the Foreign earned income exclusion (FEIE)

All tax concepts

Expat tax 101

Why file

It’s the law. But, outside of legal reasons, many taxpayers may also benefit from refunds

Expat tax deadlines & due dates

There are many different deadlines & possible extensions - TFX can keep you abreast.

Tax documents required

Which documents you may require in getting caught up to date on your tax returns

Do expats file state taxes?

It depends. State taxes are one of the most misunderstood aspects of expat tax.

Common tax forms

Thousands of tax forms exist, but which select few you really need to understand

Dependents & exemptions

How to understand these two terms & use them to your advantage to obtain tax refunds

Foreign spouse tax implications

How to understand these two terms & use them to your advantage to obtain tax refunds

Totalization agreements

Why these complex terms can mean a lot to self-employed individuals & digital nomads

Green Card holders

US tax filing requirements & credits specific to permanent residents

Surrendering citizenship or Green Card

Big life choice that also carries hidden tax implications & filing requirements

Social security survivor benefits

Will your non-US spouse be sble to receive survivor, dependent, or spousal benefits?

All expat tax 101

Who we help

Americans working abroad

US citizens & Green Card holders who are living and working outside the US

American educators abroad

TFX has partnerships with many international schools to assist their staff with tax filings

American contractors overseas

Contractor taxes contain many nuances, especially for potential state tax filing requirements

Employees of international organizations

Aid workers (& other staff) of the UN, EC, WHO or WB have many tax advantages and tax complexities

Pilots

Thx for keeping us safe in the sky! International pilot taxes are *almost* as complex as flying a jet

Military

Working in war zones or stationed abroad, TFX can help understand filing requirements

Digital nomads

Global citizens who earn a living without a permanent establishment

Retirees abroad

TFX files returns for American retirees globally & ensures their nest eggs are protected

Small business owners

We support entrepreneurs globally & explain how to make the most of your hard-earned earnings

Green Card holders

Permanent residency has tax implications - we explain what you need to know

Accidental Americans

Born with a U.S. citizenship but never filed tax returns? TFX can help.

Dual citizens with US passports

Multiple citizenship is in vogue! TFX explains your U.S. tax filing requirements

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Dominican Republic

Iceland

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Frequently asked questions & tips
Tax questionnaire guide
How to use our handy tax questionnaire
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Articles

How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property

Inheriting property can be both a blessing and a financial challenge. While receiving real estate as an inheritance represents a significant asset, it can also trigger substantial tax obligations when you decide to sell....

Full guide: FBAR filing requirements and deadlines in 2025

Whether you live in the US or abroad, if you hold an account in a foreign bank — whether savings, pension, or investment — you may be required to comply with FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) filing requirements. Many Americans are unaware that simply having a foreign bank account can trigger FBAR obligations. ...