U.S. TAX PREPARATION FOR AMERICANS ABROAD
Your U.S. tax return doesn't get simpler when you leave the country.
I prepare U.S. tax returns for Americans living abroad, including returns involving the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credit, FBAR, Form 8938, and prior-year filing problems.
You work directly with me. I review your situation before accepting the engagement, tell you what I need, and agree the scope and price with you before preparation begins.
Chip Moreno · PTIN holder · IRS-authorized e-file provider · Based in Ecuador
SERVICES
What I prepare
Annual U.S. Returns for Americans Abroad
Federal income-tax preparation involving foreign residence, foreign-earned income, foreign taxes, and international filing considerations.
Learn moreFBAR and Form 8938
Foreign financial-account and asset reporting when applicable to the engagement.
Learn moreStreamlined Foreign Offshore Filings
For qualifying taxpayers addressing prior filing failures through the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures.
Learn moreComplex Expat Returns
For filings involving additional schedules, foreign entities or assets, multiple income sources, or other facts requiring an individually defined scope.
Learn moreNot sure where yours fits? That's what the initial consultation is for.
HOW FILEABROAD IS DIFFERENT
One preparer, from first review through filing.
FileAbroad is deliberately small.
I review the initial facts myself. If I accept the engagement, I prepare the return and communicate with you directly throughout the process. If I need more information, I ask you for it. Before anything is filed, you review the return with me.
I run FileAbroad while living abroad myself, currently in Ecuador.
THE PROCESS
How it works
- 1
Tell me about the situation.
Start with the years involved, where you live, your income, and any foreign accounts or filing concerns.
- 2
Consultation and scope.
We review the facts together. If I can accept the work, I confirm what will be prepared, the price, and the records I need.
- 3
Secure document collection and preparation.
You upload the requested records through the secure portal. I prepare the return within the agreed scope.
- 4
You review before I file.
Nothing is submitted until you've had an opportunity to review the completed return and ask questions.
A DELIBERATE FIT
Sometimes you shouldn't hire me.
If your return is straightforward and you're comfortable applying the international rules yourself, tax software may be enough.
If you need tax litigation, legal advice, audit representation, or a multidisciplinary engagement, you may need a larger firm or another specialist.
FileAbroad is designed for Americans abroad who want direct access to the person preparing their U.S. return.
EXPAT TAX GUIDES
Understand the rules before you file.
Start with the rules that most often determine how an American abroad needs to file.
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Who qualifies, how the Physical Presence and Bona Fide Residence tests differ, and what the FEIE does — and doesn't — exclude.
Read the guideFEIE vs. Foreign Tax Credit
Why the better approach depends on your income, foreign taxes, and longer-term situation.
Read the guideFBAR
Which accounts can trigger reporting, how the aggregate threshold works, and what information is reported.
Read the guideStreamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures
Who the procedures are intended for, what must be filed, and why non-willfulness matters.
Read the guideFiling Updates for Americans Abroad
Practical U.S. tax updates for Americans abroad, including filing deadlines, international reporting changes, and new FileAbroad guides. Unsubscribe anytime.
Occasional filing updates. Unsubscribe anytime. No tax details are collected here.
ABOUT FILEABROAD
I'm Chip Moreno.
I'm an American living in Ecuador and the founder of FileAbroad.
I built the practice specifically around U.S. taxpayers living outside the United States. I personally review each prospective engagement and work directly with accepted clients through preparation and filing.
FileAbroad is an IRS-authorized e-file provider, and I hold a current PTIN as a paid U.S. tax return preparer.
BEFORE YOU START
Questions about filing U.S. taxes abroad
These are the questions I most often need to resolve before determining the filing scope.
Do I really need to file U.S. taxes if I live abroad?
Yes. U.S. citizens and resident aliens generally remain subject to U.S. tax on worldwide income while abroad. Filing thresholds depend on your tax year and facts, and exclusions or credits do not necessarily remove the filing requirement. FBAR and other information reports are separate. Passport restrictions can apply in cases involving seriously delinquent federal tax debt; missing one return does not automatically trigger them.
What is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)?
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion allows qualifying U.S. citizens and residents living abroad to exclude a significant amount of their foreign earnings from U.S. taxation. For tax year 2025 (filed in 2026), this exclusion is up to $130,000. To qualify, you must meet either the Bona Fide Residence test or the Physical Presence test.
What is the FBAR and who needs to file it?
FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) reports Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. You must file if you have a financial interest in or signature authority over foreign accounts whose combined value exceeded $10,000 at any time during the calendar year. The deadline is April 15, with an automatic extension to October 15.
What happens if I haven't filed U.S. taxes in several years?
There are IRS procedures that may apply, including Streamlined procedures for eligible taxpayers. FileAbroad begins with scope screening and does not determine willfulness; uncertain intent, prior IRS contact, or legal exposure requires an appropriate attorney or credentialed-representative referral.
Can I avoid double taxation on my income?
The FEIE, Foreign Tax Credit, housing provisions, totalization agreements, and some treaty provisions may reduce overlapping taxes, but eligibility and results depend on your facts. FileAbroad does not promise a tax result and refers treaty-based positions when appropriate.
Do I still have state tax obligations while living abroad?
It depends on the state’s current residency, domicile, and source-income rules and your facts. FileAbroad can screen whether a return may be in scope; disputed domicile, nexus, or legal-residency questions may require state-specific counsel or a credentialed reviewer.
READY TO START?
Tell me what you're dealing with.
You don't need to know which form or service you need. Tell me where you live, which years need attention, how you earn income, and what you're concerned about. I'll review the inquiry and tell you whether the next step is a consultation.
Tell Me About My SituationPrefer email? info@fileabroad.com