Mel Whitney
- Non-resident taxation
- Real estate taxation
- Tax optimization
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Humboldt State University
Articles
1031 exchange foreign property: what US expats and investors must know in 2026
If you own investment real estate overseas, a 1031 exchange foreign property transaction can defer your capital gains when you sell – but it depends entirely on whether both properties are on the same side of the border. Under ...
How to report foreign assets to IRS: Form 8938 vs 3520 vs 5471 vs 8865
US expats with foreign bank accounts, overseas businesses, trusts, or large gifts from abroad typically need to file one or more international information returns alongside their regular Form 1040. The four main forms are Form 8938, ...
What is FATCA? The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act explained for US expats
FATCA stands for the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act – a 2010 US law that requires foreign banks to report accounts held by US persons to the IRS and requires US taxpayers with foreign financial assets above set thresholds to file Form 8938 w...
FATCA penalties: what happens if you fail to report foreign assets?
For most US taxpayers abroad, FATCA penalties mean Form 8938 penalties. If you were required to file Form 8938 for the 2025 tax year and did not, the starting penalty is $10,000 (2025). It can reach $60,000 (2025) after an IRS notice if the problem is not corrected.</...
Foreign tax credit for US expats: Rules, limits, and how to claim it
The US foreign tax credit is a nonrefundable credit that reduces your US tax bill by the amount of qualifying income tax you paid or accrued to a foreign government on foreign-source income also subject to US tax. It is calculated on ...
Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures removed in 2026: how to file late FBARs now
The Delinquent FBAR filing procedures historically covered an FBAR-only probl...