Ines Zemelman
Articles
Digital nomad taxes: What US citizens working abroad need to know (2026)
Life on the move has its perks – new cities, fresh Wi‑Fi, and maybe even beachside Zoom calls. But there’s one thing digital nomads can’t outrun: taxes. Whether you're freelancing from Lisbon or managing remote teams in Chiang Mai, understanding digital nomad taxes is essential to avoid surprises from the IRS or foreign tax offices....
Schedule A (Form 1040): A guide to itemized deductions for US expats
When it comes to taxes, US citizens living abroad often ask the same question: Should I itemize my deductions or take the standard deduction? Schedule A (Form 1040) is a valuable tool for taxpayers who want to maximize their deductions by list...
Form 720: A guide to the quarterly federal excise tax return
If your business sells fuel, provides certain transportation or communication services, or deals in other excise-taxable goods, federal excise taxes may apply. But Form 720 – the Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return – applies to a wider range of businesses than many people realize. From small employers with self-insured health plans to c...
What does the "FATCA Filing Requirement" box on Form 1099 mean?
It is a payer or issuer reporting flag, not a box you complete yourself. In current IRS instructions, the 1099 FATCA filing requirement box is tied to chapter 4 account-reporting rules, which are part of FATCA. Whether the FATCA filing requirement box is checked, whether the FATCA filing requirement box is not checked, or whether the FA...
Qualified education expenses: what counts, what does not, and how to claim the right tax break
Higher education is expensive, but the tax rules can soften the hit. The catch is that qualified education expenses do not mean exactly the same thing for every tax break. For one benefit, a laptop may count. For another, it may not. For one rule, room and board qualifies. For another, it does not. That is why the smartest way to approa...
MAGI explained: What Modified Adjusted Gross Income means and how to calculate it
Making the most of Modified Adjusted Gross Income should be a key part of your financial planning and taxes, as it can play an important role when determining your eligibility for various tax credits, deductions, and retirement account contributions...