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Expatriate Tax Returns

Expatriate Tax Due Dates

TRUMPS TCJA (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) and THE EXPAT

Expatriate Tax Returns Trumps TCIA and the Expat Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

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.

Expatriate Tax Returns is Grateful For You

It’s hard to believe that the year 2018 is almost over. It’s been a wonderful year for us at Expatriate Tax Returns and a time for reflection. While we have been serving American expats for many years, we still think of our company as a startup. The reason is that it keeps us thinking in innovative ways. Expatriate taxes are constantly changing for American citizens working abroad and we see it as our mission to keep ourselves a few steps ahead of the pace.

Our expat tax strategies are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our expatriate clients. The recent Thanksgiving holiday gave us at Expatriate Tax Returns a chance to count our blessings. We are so very grateful for our many clients, who are living and working in interesting countries throughout the world. We thank you for putting your trust in our tax preparers to prepare your expat tax.

 

expat tax services

 

Ensuring that the expat tax returns for thousands of clients around the world are complete and thorough is quite an undertaking for our team, but it’s our reason for existing. We take tax prep very seriously and take great pride in keeping apprised of the many recent changes in IRS tax rules for expatriates. The gratitude we receive when a client is satisfied with their expat tax preparation reminds us that what we do really makes a difference. It gives our clients peace of mind.

During the winter holiday season, we gave thanks for all the good that we have in our lives. Everyone at Expatriate Tax Returns is grateful for you — our clients. We wish you a joyous and blessed holiday season and a successful ending to 2018. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions regarding your expatriate tax preparation.

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.

 

Expat Taxes Best Price

 

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.

How the Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Will Affect American Expats

Just before Christmas, President Donald Trump signed the 1,100-page Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or TCJA, into law. This reform of the tax code won’t affect your 2017 expatriate filings, but it will have an effect on your 2018 tax returns. This is meant as a general guide; you should always consult with a professional at Expatriate Tax Returns before filing.

Expatriate Tax Returns

Let’s start with some acronyms:

CBT – Citizenship-Based Taxation – a country, like the United States, taxes you based on the citizenship you hold.

RBT – Residence-Based Taxation – a practice employed by many other countries, taxing you based on where you live.

FEIE – Foreign Earned Income Exclusion – This is a dollar for dollar deduction on foreign-earned money that you’ve already paid foreign taxes on, currently limited at $104,100 annually. This is calculated every year but will no longer increase as quickly. Going forward, it will no longer be calculated on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), but rather on the slower moving Chained Consumer Price Index.

FATCA – Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act – This law was enacted in 2010 and increased the US government’s authority to come after expatriate taxes.

NIIT – Net Investment Income Tax – This is a 3.8% tax that is exempt from the FEIE and often results in double taxation.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act won’t necessarily have a large impact on American expatriates, but you can always contact us at Expatriate Tax Returns for detailed information and consultation. In conclusion, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act won’t have significant impacts on American expats working overseas, but expatriate owners of small businesses will definitely feel the pinch.

Tax returns are always a complicated endeavor for expats, and that will be true for this year’s returns, next year’s and beyond. Every individual situation is different, and our certified expatriate tax consultants are here for you. The 2017 tax filing deadline is June 15th – let us help you get started today!

We Educate American Expatriates 

When you become an expat and move outside of the United States for your new job in another country, you will have many questions about your expatriate status. No matter how much research you did as you prepared to move to Dubai, Shanghai, London, Paris, Tel Aviv or Sydney, you’ll still not be totally prepared for this new phase in your personal and professional life.

The staff of Expatriate Tax Returns considers ourselves to be educators. We see our role to not only prepare expat tax returns for our clients, but to also educate our clients about what it means to be an American expatriate. There are many benefits, but also several responsibilities for American citizens who are living and working abroad. It’s a wonderful experience to be an expat, but there are certain things you must remember to do each year.

Expatriate Tax Returns for Expats

Filing your expatriate tax return is one of the key tasks each expat must remember and ExpatriateTaxReturns.com is here to ensure your tax return filing is exactly as it must be. Our tax experts don’t just prepare your return; we educate you to understand your tax return as it’s different than the annual tax returns you filed while living in the U.S.

Call ExpatriateTaxReturns.com today for an efficient, professional tax return experience. As a bonus, we’ll educate you on the ins and outs of being an American expat. We are available at (877) ETAX-123 or (877)-382-9123.

The World’s Flat, but Expatriate Taxes are Still a Reality

In the book “The World is Flat” by the award-winning New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, the author demystifies the brave new world for readers, allowing them to make sense of the often bewildering global scene unfolding before their eyes. He explains how globalization has made the borders between nations virtually disappear and make us feel as if the world is a much smaller place.

For the many expats who are currently living and working outside of the United States, you know this to be true. The world really does seem smaller thanks to the Internet and globalization. Decades ago if you moved away from the United States, you’d be lucky to arrange for a phone call back to the States once a week or so. Today, you can text and video chat with friends, family and colleagues across the globe at any time of the day with perfect reception.

world-is-flat

With the advances in technology, it’s nothing to wire money or do any type of commerce between your current country and the U.S. Perhaps we take this for granted at times because it has become so easy to communicate back home. However, there is one thing that hasn’t changed over time. No matter how advanced our technology has become and much those virtual borders have disappeared, Americans living abroad still have to file their United States tax returns. Thankfully though, you’re not on your own. The tax experts at Expatriate Tax Returns are here to handle that responsibility on your behalf. So contact us today and let us take care of the rest. Simply fill out the form on our homepage and we’ll get the process started. We have YOUR best interests in mind.