Mel Whitney
Articles
Foreign Housing Exclusion for US expats: Rules, limits, and how to claim
The foreign housing exclusion and deduction are available to qualifying US citizens and resident aliens with a foreign tax home and foreign earned income. US citizens can qualify under either the bona fide residence test or t...
Form 8833 treaty-based return position disclosure for expats: what it is and who must file
Form 8833 is the...
Form 1099-K threshold rollback: $600 rule reversed in latest tax reform
If you sell occasionally on eBay, collect client payments through Stripe, or use an online marketplace while living abroad, the 1099-K story for this filing season is much less confusing than it looked a year ago. Congress reversed the muc...
How to Use Head of Household Status to File Your Taxes
The head of household filing status is one that few people understand. But it is important to understand all of your filing options to minimize the taxes you owe. If you meet the criteria to qualify, a tax return for head of household can result in lower taxes than single status. This article will help you to understand how to qualify for head o...
H1B visa taxes: Complete filing guide for nonimmigrant workers (2026)
H1B visa holders typically qualify as US resident aliens for tax purposes after passing the substantial presence test. That means H1B visa tax usually includes federal income tax at 10–37% progressive rates, plus Social Security at 6.2% and Medicare at 1.45%, along with state taxes. The filing deadline is April 15, 2026,...
US tax rules for resident and nonresident aliens: a complete guide
Whether you hold a Green Card, spend part of the year stateside, or simply earn occasional US income, your tax status – resident or non-resident alien – sets the ground rules, especially for tax purposes. If you’re a foreign employee, student, freelancer, or retiree with US ties, this guide delivers the essentia...