Sending our love to all who are working overseas this Valentine’s Day.
Expat Tax Preparation
TRUMPS TCJA (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) and THE EXPAT
Originally it was thought the tax relief was on the horizon for expats when President Trump’s new tax program was put into law, but the reality is that nothing is really different from the new rules that apply to all US taxpayers:
- Tax Brackets
- Standard Deduction
- Personal Exemptions
- Child Tax Credit
- Mortgage Interest Deduction
- State and Local Tax Deductions
The major change regarding international taxpayers is how Controlled Foreign Corporations are handled. Trump’s tax reform details a new category of corporate income called the Global Intangibles Low-Taxed Income (or GILTI), that requires recognition of a percentage of previously deferred foreign earnings and is now taxed as Subpart F income.
Current undistributed retained earnings are taxed at 15.5%, if held in liquid assets, and 8% if held in illiquid assets. This is a one-time tax and can be paid over 8 years.
Starting with your 2018 Corporate Tax Filing, everything is Subpart F Earnings. Any income in excess of $102, 100 (or $204,200 if your spouse is active in the business) will be taxed at ordinary income rates.
Questions regarding your unique situation can be directed to Expatriatetaxreturns.com.
Number of Expatriates is Growing at Steady Rate
An article on the CNBC website, which appeared this past summer, shows that a steady stream of American citizens have chosen to live and work outside of the United States as expatriates. Some of these Americans have renounced their U.S. citizenship because of the implementation of stricter tax rules. However, most expats do not renounce their citizenship. The tax issues that American expats face are significant and can include facing higher tax bills, difficulty in obtaining and keeping financial accounts and complex retirement savings rules.
At Expatriate Tax Returns, we are happy to see such a notable rise in the rate of expatriates. We think it’s a wonderful experience for professionals to spend a few years abroad, but we also caution our clients that there are several important tax considerations to keep in mind as an American expat. Remember that Americans who reside in another country must file a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBAR. That form should disclose any accounts Americans have that hold an aggregate of more than $10,000. There are stiff penalties if you fail to file an FBAR. Additionally, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) requires foreign institutions to disclose the holdings U.S. citizens have. Americans also need to disclose any foreign mutual funds and insurance or pension products that they own. Those holdings may be viewed as passive foreign investment companies, or PFICs, by the IRS. There are also certain rules that can offset the tax bills that Americans living abroad face.
Many of these tax rules and policies could change in the coming years. It’s a lot to consider for expatriates and staying abreast of IRS changes is even more difficult to do. That’s where we come in. The experienced tax professionals at Expatriate Tax Returns have made it our mission to help expatriates like you and to follow all of the changes in the tax code for expats. Leave it to us to handle your tax returns and ensure that your experience as an expat is a stress-free one. All of us at Expatriate Tax Returns wish you and your family a happy new year. We hope 2019 is a successful and great year for you!
The Importance of Taking Risks to Experience Life
Taking risks is never the easy route to go. This is especially true when the risk is taking a journey that will change your life and your family’s lives. Becoming an expatriate and moving overseas for a year or two is certainly a risky decision. However, it is a decision that will allow you to reap the benefits of being an expat – living in a new part of the world and contributing to your company on a global scale.
Studies have shown that risk-taking is essential to business people’s success. In fact, American expats have written about how taking the risk and spending time overseas with their family has been one of the most beneficial moments of their professional journey.
Human beings naturally tend to view risk-taking negatively, often regarding it as dangerous and even unwise. Some risks don’t pay off, but those are usually the uncalculated ones. When you choose to become an expatriate, you’ll do it in a very calculated and intelligent way. This is called a calculated risk and it will pay off for you both personally and professionally. Taking a risk and becoming an expat will also help you stand out and present yourself as a leader and smart risk taker among your colleagues.
When you choose to become an American expatriate and travel overseas for your job, one of the most important things to remember during this calculated risk journey is to select the right accounting firm to handle your expatriate tax returns. ExpatriateTaxReturns.com is the industry leader for preparing the often-complicated tax returns of American expats. Fill out the simple form on our website or call us today at 877-382-9123 to get started.
Summer is a Time of Transitions
In the 1998 business bestseller, “Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life,” by Spencer Johnson, we learned important advice on how to handle change in our business and personal lives through a motivational business fable based on a mouse who freaks out when his cheese is moved from its usual location one day.
This fable reminds us all that transitions are difficult. When we have been driving the same way to work at the same time each morning and then arrive at the same office or cubicle, it can be a harrowing experience when that all changes. Such is the case for American expats.
Summer is a time of transitions for many in the business community. Those becoming expatriates this fall know that the summer is the most common time to make the move abroad. The kids will be leaving their school and friends, which can make for a traumatic experience. For adults, it’s not much easier as there are many important things to plan and think about. Heading overseas can be an exciting experience, but it certainly isn’t hassle-free. Whether you are married, have a family, or are single, there are a lot of important elements that go into preparing for a move abroad.
After accepting a new job overseas or a job transfer to a country outside the United States, it’s important to create a long “To Do List” with critical items like finding a place to live, forwarding mail, and finding a physician in your new country (here’s a full planning checklist). One often overlooked item on the “To Do List” is informing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that you are moving abroad.
It’s important to update your address information with the IRS so they can properly send your refund or any correspondence. You can update your address with the IRS by completing Form 8822, Change of Address at any time during the year. Failure to notify the IRS of an address change can be costly. For example, it can keep you from contesting a lien for unpaid taxes. At Expatriate Tax Returns, we understand that planning for the big move abroad is challenging and there are already so many things to think about. We can help you alleviate the stress by walking you through this journey hand-in-hand. We’ve helped thousands of U.S. expatriates successfully transition to their new country and we’ll help you too.
No matter where you are in the process of your preparation for becoming an expat, call on us for trusted, professional assistance. We’ll be with you every step of the way. Call us today at 877-382-9123 or fill out the form on our website: www.expatriatetaxreturns.com.
More Expats as the World Gets Smaller
Globalization is defined as “the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.” Globalization has made the borders between countries virtually disappear, causing the world to feel like a much smaller place. This undoubtedly has contributed to a rise in workers choosing to move abroad and become expatriates.
The vast increase in expatriates, however, hasn’t led to it being any easier to become an expat. In addition to the typical demands placed on you as you plan to relocate to a foreign country, there is a host of challenging decisions to make and financial responsibilities.
United States tax laws have long been a burden on American expats. For this reason, Expatriate Tax Returns was launched. Our team of CPAs recognized that focusing on expatriate tax returns was necessary as this had quickly become its own field of accounting. Expat taxes are confusing and preparing them is a frustration that expatriates do not want to have to burden amidst the many other challenges facing them as expatriates.
With the growth of globalization has come the surge in technological advances. While this technological innovation has made so many things easier (like finding our company on the web!), it hasn’t caused expatriate tax return filing to be any easier or less of a hassle. Americans living abroad must file their United States tax returns in an exacting way and this can be terribly complicated (especially for a new American expat). To make this process easier and to save you precious time, the tax experts at Expatriate Tax Returns are here to handle that responsibility on your behalf.
Contact our team of expat CPAs today and then you can trust us to take care of everything. Simply fill out the form on our homepage or call us at 877-382-9123 and we’ll get the process started for you. We have your best interests in mind. The world may be getting smaller and becoming an expat may be more common, but expatriate tax returns will always be a reality.