Mel Whitney

IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures (SFOP): a comprehensive guide for expats

The Internal Revenue Service introduced the ...

Foreign rental property depreciation for US expats: ADS rules, 30 vs 40 years, and examples

Foreign rental property depreciation requires the use of ADS – the Alternative Depreciation System, which is one of the two systems within MACRS. Here is what that means in practice: Foreign residential rental property used predominantly outside the US must be depreciated under ADS. ADS uses straight-line deprec...

FBAR vs. Form 8938: A detailed guide to key differences and filing thresholds (2026)

FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) and Form 8938 are two separate US reporting obligations for foreign financial assets. FBAR is filed with FinCEN and applies when aggregate foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any point during the calendar year. Form 8938 is filed with the IRS and applies to higher-value specified foreign financial assets, w...

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): Complete guide 2026

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) is a US tax rule that lets Americans living and working abroad not pay US income tax on part of their foreign income. Generally, you qualify for FEIE if you earn income abroad, l...

Am I exempt from FATCA reporting? Rules, exemptions & filing requirements (2026)

The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) is a US law designed to prevent tax evasion by Americans holding money and investments overseas. If you're a US taxpayer or specified domestic entity with foreign assets, k...

How to file J-1 visa tax return: a complete guide for visa holders

For the 2026 filing season, most J-1 nonresident aliens must file a nonresident tax return on Form 1040-NR if they have taxable US-source income. J-1 visa taxes are not optional if you have taxable US-source income. Even with no taxable income, many J-1 holders stil...

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