Mel Whitney

Double taxation means the same income is taxed twice – either by two countries claiming the same earnings, or at two levels within one system, where a corporation pays tax on profits and the shareholder pays again on dividends. For Americans who live or do business abroad, double tax exposure is one of the most common filing compl...

The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act, FIRPTA, is part of US tax law that can require withholding when a foreign person sells US real estate. In a typical sale, the buyer has the immediate filing duty, not the seller. That is why buyers, closing teams, and foreign owners all need the rules right before funds move at closing.</...

A passive foreign investment company is defined by what a foreign corporation earns or holds – specifically, the 75% passive income test or the 50% passive asset test under IRC Sec. 1297(a). A controlled foreign corporation is defined by who owns it – US shareholders owning at least 10% each must collectively hold more than 50% of the...

If you're a US citizen or green card holder earning income abroad, one of the first tax decisions each year is whether to use the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC), the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), or both. The choice affects how much US tax you owe, whether you qualify for refundable credits like the Additional Child Tax Credit, and whethe...

An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is a 9-digit IRS Taxpayer ID for people who need to file or be listed on a US federal tax return but cannot get an SSN. For 2025 returns filed in 2026, ITIN issues often come up for nonresident spouses, foreign depend...

The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) carryover lets a US taxpayer move qualified foreign income taxes that exceed the Form 1116 limitation back 1 year and forward as many as 10 years. For 2025 returns filed in 2026, balances must be tracked by income category, and section 951A-category taxes cannot be carried over. An unused FTC arises when you...