Articles

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion vs Foreign Tax Credit: Which one should you use?

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...

FBAR vs. FATCA for US expats: Key differences, filing rules, and when you need both

FBAR and FATCA are two separate US foreign asset reporting regimes. FBAR is filed on FinCEN Form 114 with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, a bureau of the US Treasury. FATCA is filed on Form 8938 as an attachment to your Form 1040 with the IRS. Many US expats file both in the same year because the thresholds and asset sc...

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

If you hold money outside the US, two separate reporting rules may apply to you. FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is filed with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network if the aggregate maximum value of your foreign financial accounts exceeds $10,000...

IRS Form 14654 instructions for SDOP filing: How to certify non-willfulness under the domestic streamlined procedures

Many US taxpayers discover years later that foreign income, bank accounts, or FBARs were never reported — often because they did not realize the rules applied to them. To help eligible ...

IRS Form 14653: A complete guide for US expats and offshore filers

What is Form 14653? Form 14653 is the IRS certification form use...

What is an ITIN, and why do you need one?

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...