Andrew Coleman
Articles
What happens if you don't file taxes while living abroad? Penalties & IRS rules explained
Most Americans who move abroad don't realize they're still required to file US tax returns – and by the time they do, they're often several years behind. Missing those filings can mean penalties, growing interest charges, and foreign account reporting violations that compound the longer they go unaddressed. Before diving in, here are a ...
Returning to the US: Essential tax checklist for expats (2026)
Returning to the US after living abroad can be exciting, but the tax side of a mid-year move can get complicated fast. A returning to the US expat may need to deal with federal deadlines, partial-year exclusions, foreign accounts, state residency, and new health coverage decisions in the same filing cycle. This expat tax checklist is up...
How the IRS can find you if you haven't filed taxes while living abroad
The IRS has multiple ways to identify US citizens and green card holders abroad who have not filed. Foreign bank reporting under FATCA, separate disclosures on FBAR and Form 8938, digital asset reporting, travel records, public internet research, whistleblower claims, and newer IRS AI enforcement/data matching have made non-filing abroad much eas...
What is Form 8332, release of claim to exemption for child by custodial parent
Form 8332 is the IRS form the custodial parent signs to release the claim to a child for federal tax purposes. In some cases, a similar written statement can also work, and certain pre-2009 divorce decrees or separation agreements may qualify if they meet IRS r...
Dependent exemption in 2026: Who qualifies and what it means today
No, the dependent exemption deduction is not active for 2025 returns filed in 2026 – it has been suspended since 2018 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. But yes, claiming a dependent still unlocks real benefits: the Child Ta...
Physical presence test: Complete guide to the 330-day rule (2026)
The IRS physical presence test is one of the two ways to qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE). The key situation is the 2025 tax return filed in 2026. To qualify under this rule, you generally must...