Mel Whitney
- Non-resident taxation
- Real estate taxation
- Tax optimization
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
- Humboldt State University
Articles
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE): Complete guide 2025
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is one of the few tax rules that actually feels like a win for Americans abroad. The IRS taxes your worldwide income from every place you earn money, so this break is a big deal when most of your pay comes from work overseas. In 2025, the rules behind the foreign income exclusion stay simple: meet one of two re...
What is FIRPTA? A guide for foreign sellers and US buyers
The Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980 sets the rules for foreign people who sell a home in the US. Many sellers wonder, What is FIRPTA? And why does it matter during the sale of their property? So this guide explains it in very easy words. It also shows how a tax obligation works and when FIRPTA exceptions can help. ...
How to avoid paying capital gains tax on inherited property
Inheriting property comes with significant tax implications when you sell. Capital gains tax (CGT) on inherited property can substantially reduce your inheritance value—but several legal strategies can help you minimize or eliminate this tax burden entirely. This guide covers six proven methods to avoid capital gains tax on inherited proper...
Delinquent FBAR submission procedures – 2025 guide
Many expats only realize after the fact that their foreign bank accounts should have been reported to the IRS through an FBAR filing. The Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures (DFSP) give a clear, IRS-approved route in 2025 for catching up on these past-due FBARs and restoring full compliance without unnecessary penalties. This guide ex...
Form 14654 explained: How to certify non-willfulness under the IRS Streamlined Procedures
In 2014, the IRS changed the course of offshore compliance by launching the Streamlined Domestic Offshore Procedures – a relief path for US residents who had unknowingly failed to report foreign income and accounts. It offered a lifeline to those who made honest errors rather than deliberate omissions, replacing fear of massive penalties wi...
FBAR vs. Form 8938: a detailed guide to key differences and filing thresholds
Handling foreign financial exposure as a US expat means getting FBAR and Form 8938 right, not just hoping you’ll be safe. We lay out the firm requirements for each, walk through threshold triggers in straightforward language, and compare both paths so you know your filing strategy. It’s designed for clarity, not tax-jargon overload....