How an American therapist in the UK resolved years of unfiled US taxes
“The overwhelming amount of online information left me feeling panicked; I did not know where or how to start the process of becoming tax compliant.”
Aishah Ahmed Bumadian, American expat in the UK
For many Americans living abroad, US tax obligations come as a surprise – especially after years of paying taxes in another country. That was the case for Aishah Ahmed Bumadian, an American trauma-informed therapist living in York, England.
After leaving the United States at 19, Aishah built her life overseas and later launched a private counselling practice in the UK. Like many American expats in the UK, she assumed that paying UK taxes meant she had no US filing obligations.
Years later, she learned that US citizens are still required to file annual US tax returns – even when living and paying taxes abroad.
After researching her options and speaking with Taxes for Expats, Aishah decided to use the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure (SFOP) to bring her filings up to date and become compliant.
Key facts
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Countries |
US, UK |
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Filing method |
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Main challenge |
Discovering ongoing US filing obligations while self-employed abroad |
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Outcome |
Became compliant with the IRS without penalties |
Learning about US tax obligations while living abroad
Before settling in the UK, Aishah had lived in several countries where expats generally did not pay local income taxes.
By the time she launched her therapy practice in 2022, she still believed that paying taxes in the UK meant she had no US filing responsibilities.
“I recently discovered the tax return filing requirements when a fellow American highlighted that annual filing was mandatory for all US citizens living abroad. The overwhelming amount of online information left me feeling panicked,” Aishah shares.
As Wendy Christiansen, CPA and Tax Supervisor at Taxes for Expats, explains:
“We see this situation quite often with Americans in the UK, especially those who have lived abroad for many years. Many assume that because they’re fully paying taxes to HMRC and following UK tax rules, there’s nothing additional they need to do in the US. The UK tax system is also very different from the US system, which can make the filing requirements feel confusing.”
Choosing the Streamlined Procedure
Aishah first heard about Taxes for Expats through a close friend who had previously worked with the company:
“Learning about their Streamlined Procedure and their excellent responses to my concerns made it very easy for me to decide to work with their accountants.”
One of the things she appreciated most was the communication throughout the process:
“My accountant and the team were incredible in their communication and timely responses. I would almost always hear back from someone within 24 hours,” she adds.
Completing the filing process
Because Aishah qualified for the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure, she only needed to file the last 3 years of tax returns along with the required reporting forms.
The program is intended for taxpayers whose failure to file was considered non-willful – meaning they did not intentionally avoid their US tax obligations but were genuinely unaware of the filing requirements while living abroad, as was the case for Aishah.
She shares:
“The Streamlined Procedure itself was very straightforward, though some of the additional forms initially appeared complex. It was very reassuring to know that I didn’t have to stress about filling in the correct information on the tax return.”
As Huntly Mayo-Malasky, CPA and CEO at Taxes for Expats, explains:
“Additional IRS forms are common for Americans abroad with self-employment income, foreign bank accounts, investments, pensions, or other overseas financial assets. For example, someone running a business in the UK may need to report both foreign business income and certain overseas accounts alongside their tax return.”
After submitting her returns, Aishah says she felt relieved to have the process completed:
“It was a huge relief to finally submit and send my tax returns. If you find yourself in the same predicament as I did, wanting to start this process of tax compliance but feeling overwhelmed and confused, I would highly recommend Taxes for Expats.”
How Americans abroad can catch up on unfiled taxes
The IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure is designed for Americans living abroad who failed to file US tax returns because they did not realize they still had filing obligations.
The program provides a structured, penalty-free way to catch up on overdue filings and become compliant with the IRS.
At Taxes for Expats, our CPA-led streamlined filing service includes:
- Preparation and filing of 3 years of federal tax returns
- Submission of 6 years of FBARs
- Eligibility review and analysis of your tax situation
- Secure document collection and communication with your assigned CPA
- Final compliance check before submission
- Optional preparation of a non-willful certification
Our team guides you through the entire process step by step – from the initial consultation and eligibility assessment to final submission with the IRS.
Since 2012, we’ve helped more than 2,200 taxpayers successfully complete streamlined procedures and resolve past non-compliance issues with confidence.
