US expats really do have their own rules when it comes to taxes: the many IRS tax provisions and reporting requirements that apply only to US taxpayers who live abroad.
When seeking professional tax advice regarding their US and overseas rights and responsibilities, expats today have the option of Googling "CPA in US" and in most cases they can establish an online professional relationship with the "CPA in US" firm of their choice.
An important consideration for expats, however, is the extent of international taxation experience that the average CPA in the US is …show more content…
Setting up a foreign legal entity to channel income, for example, can eliminate the US self-employment tax as an operating expense for an expat working as as professional or independent contractor in a foreign …show more content…
A major component of many expats' tax strategy is the foreign earned income exclusion, which allows Americans living overseas to earn up to $91,500 tax-free if they can prove their overseas residence by meeting the criteria of the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test. A CPA in the US who is experienced in helping expats to qualify for every available tax break can make sure that a miscalculation of a key requirement does not wind up adding thousands to an expat's tax bill.
A tax professional in an American expat's country of residence is not likely to have the requisite knowledge of the US tax system, but a CPA in the US who has worked for years with expats can provide the needed expertise in both IRS and foreign tax policy. This is the global mix that US expats need to look for in their tax planning professionals, otherwise they risk running afoul of expat tax rules or paying more in US taxes than