General consultation · paid consultation · written scope · PTIN holder in Ecuador
Map Your Expat Filing Situation Before You Spend a Dollar on Preparation
Most expats either over-file or under-file. In a paid consultation, I review your country, income, accounts, and filing history to map exactly what is required — and what is not — before any preparation work begins.
No cost for the intake review. I review every intake personally and reply within one business day. If FileAbroad can accept the work, we schedule a paid consultation where you receive a written scope, document checklist, and flat quote — all yours to keep even if you do not proceed.
Direct preparer
Discuss accepted filing work directly with the person preparing it.
Written scope
Scope and preparation terms are documented before preparation begins.
Secure document transfer
Secure upload instructions follow acceptance of the written scope.
Choose a starting point
A focused path for the facts you already know
PFIC consultation
Foreign Funds and PFICs: The Surprise Tax Bill Most Expats Never See Coming
Foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and pension investments can trigger PFIC rules and Form 8621 — often with harsh tax consequences. If you hold foreign investment products, use this paid consultation path to map the reporting questions before they become a problem.
Open this pathStreamlined Foreign Offshore consultation
Considering Streamlined Foreign Offshore? Screen the Facts Before You Certify.
Streamlined Foreign Offshore is one possible procedure for eligible taxpayers whose covered failures were non-willful and who satisfy the applicable non-residency and other requirements. It is not the default path for every late return. In a paid consultation, I review the relevant years, residence, prior filings, IRS contact, missing income, international information returns, FBARs, and certification records to determine whether FileAbroad can scope a Streamlined preparation engagement or whether another professional or filing path is needed.
Open this pathBusiness abroad consultation
Own a Business Abroad? The Reporting Rules Are a Minefield.
Foreign companies, partnerships, and online businesses can trigger Forms 5471, 8858, 8865, and 8992 — often without the owner realizing it. In a paid consultation, I identify the entity and ownership questions that must be answered before any return can be prepared.
Open this pathForeign-owned LLC consultation
Foreign-Owned U.S. LLC? The $25,000 Form 5472 Penalty Applies to Disregarded Entities.
A single-member LLC owned by a non-US person must file Form 5472 — even with no revenue, even as a disregarded entity, even if it only received a capital contribution. In a paid consultation, I review your entity structure, transactions, and filing history to map exactly what is required.
Open this pathFBAR catch-up consultation
Missed FBAR Filings? Map the Right Catch-Up Path Before You File.
If the aggregate value of your foreign financial accounts exceeded $10,000 at any time during a calendar year, you may have had an FBAR filing requirement. If prior FBARs were missed, the appropriate way to correct the issue depends on your filing history, account facts, tax-return compliance, and why the filings were missed. In a paid consultation, I review those facts and map the appropriate next-step compliance path.
Open this pathForeign trust consultation
Involved With a Foreign Trust or Foundation? Map the U.S. Reporting Before You File.
Foreign trusts, foundations, and trust-like family wealth structures can create U.S. income-tax and information-reporting questions that depend on the governing arrangement, the people involved, and the transactions that occurred. In a paid consultation, I review the structure, roles, available governing documents, transfers, distributions, loans, and prior filings to identify what requires further analysis and map the appropriate next step.
Open this pathRenunciation consultation
Renouncing U.S. Citizenship? Map the Exit Tax and Compliance Path Before Your Consular Appointment.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship can have significant U.S. tax consequences. Before expatriation, the covered expatriate tests, 5-year tax-compliance certification, worldwide assets, and special rules for retirement plans, deferred compensation, and trusts should be reviewed. In a paid consultation, I review the relevant facts, identify which expatriation-tax issues require further analysis, and map the preparation and compliance work that may be needed before Form 8854 is filed.
Open this pathForeign tax credit consultation
High Earner in a High-Tax Country? You May Be Overpaying U.S. Tax by Defaulting to FEIE.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is the default choice for many expats, but it is not always optimal. High earners in high-tax countries often save more by claiming the Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1116, carrying forward excess credits, and preserving FEIE for future low-tax years. In a paid consultation, I review your host-country tax liability, income mix, and multi-year outlook to map the optimal strategy.
Open this pathAccidental American consultation
Born in the U.S. but Never Lived There? You May Have Lifetime Filing Obligations You Never Knew About.
If you were born in the U.S. but never lived there, or born abroad to a U.S. parent who never filed for you, you may be a U.S. citizen with lifetime filing obligations. The accidental American path involves compliance, possible treaty relief, and often renunciation. In a paid consultation, I review your birth circumstances, filing history, and goals to map whether Streamlined, FEIE, treaty relief, or renunciation is the appropriate path.
Open this pathCrypto tax consultation
Holding Crypto Abroad? Map the U.S. Tax and International Reporting Issues Before You File.
Digital-asset activity can create U.S. income-tax and international reporting questions that depend on the asset, transaction, platform, ownership structure, and taxpayer's broader foreign financial activity. Trading, staking, mining, lending, DeFi, NFTs, tokenized investments, and foreign entities can require different analysis. In a paid consultation, I review your platforms, activity types, holdings, records, and international facts to identify the tax and reporting issues that require attention before preparation begins.
Open this pathState tax termination consultation
Moving Abroad Does Not Automatically End State Tax Obligations. Map Your Domicile Exit Before Filing Your Final Return.
California in particular applies detailed residency and domicile rules that can leave former residents with continuing filing questions after departure. The rules vary sharply by state: domicile, physical presence, a permanent place of abode, remaining ties, and state-source income can all matter. In a paid consultation, I review your state ties, sourcing, and evidence to map whether you have successfully terminated state tax residency and what documentation or filings are required.
Open this pathHSA abroad consultation
Using an HSA While Living Abroad? Confirm Your Eligibility Before Contributing.
HSA contribution eligibility depends on whether you are covered by a qualifying high-deductible health plan and whether you have other coverage that disqualifies you from contributing. Living abroad does not by itself determine eligibility, but foreign, expat, employer, or supplemental health coverage can require careful review under the U.S. rules. In a paid consultation, I review your coverage, contribution history, and HSA distributions to identify potential excess contributions, reporting issues, and next-step compliance work.
Open this pathExpat tax filing consultation
Need a U.S. Tax Return While Living Abroad? Map the Filing Before Preparation Begins.
If you know you need help with a current or recent annual U.S. individual return while living abroad but are not sure which expat rules or forms fit, start here. In a paid consultation, I review your U.S. status, country and travel timeline, filing year, income, work location, foreign taxes, accounts, assets, entities, prior returns, state ties, and deadlines; route any dominant specialist issue; and define the records and written preparation scope.
Open this pathFEIE consultation
Unsure Whether FEIE Actually Fits? Map Tax Home, Abode, Foreign Full Days, Residence, Income, and Election History First.
Form 2555 is not determined by days outside the United States alone. A valid section 911 position depends on a foreign tax home, no disqualifying U.S. abode, a qualifying physical-presence or bona-fide-residence period, foreign earned income tied to services in foreign countries, and the filing-year election and calculation rules. In a paid consultation, I organize that evidence and identify the Form 2555, housing, credit-comparison, or referral work that should come next.
Open this pathSelf-employed abroad consultation
Working for Yourself Abroad? Reconcile the Business, Books, Work Locations, and Tax Systems Before You Choose the Forms.
Freelancer, contractor, and LLC labels do not determine a U.S. return. The answer depends on the real activity and entity, owners, where services were performed, complete receipts and expenses, currencies, FEIE and foreign tax facts, Social Security coverage, estimates, accounts, and prior filings. In a paid consultation, I map that business year, identify the U.S. workstreams and foreign referrals, and define the records and preparation scope that should come next.
Open this pathTotalization and Social Security consultation
Working Across Two Social Security Systems? Map Coverage, Agreement, and Certificate Facts Before the U.S. Return.
A Social Security agreement can assign one system to covered work, but the result is not chosen simply by residence or by paying contributions. It depends on the agreement in force, employee or self-employed status, employer and assignment, work and residence periods, exceptions, and certificate evidence. In a paid consultation, I map those facts and the U.S. return questions, then identify what belongs with your employer, SSA, the foreign agency, or a separate adviser.
Open this pathForeign pension consultation
Have a Pension Outside the U.S.? Map the Tax and Reporting Before You File or Take Money Out.
A foreign plan's local pension label does not determine its U.S. treatment. Employer or government sponsorship, contribution and access rules, plan assets, treaty language, and prior filings can lead to different income and reporting questions. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, contributions, distributions, values, foreign taxes, and records so you can see which issues need analysis before filing or changing the plan.
Open this pathForeign corporation consultation
Own a Company Abroad? Map Its U.S. Classification, Ownership, and Annual Reporting Before You File.
A company organized abroad is not automatically a CFC, and an ownership percentage alone does not select Form 5471. The answer depends on U.S. entity classification, voting and value ownership, attribution, company activity, shareholder transactions, books, foreign taxes, prior filings, and the year. In a paid consultation, I map those facts and define the preparation or specialist work that should come next.
Open this pathForeign partnership consultation
Own or Joined a Partnership Abroad? Map the Entity, Ownership, and Transactions Before You File.
A local partnership or LLC label does not automatically select Form 8865—or any U.S. form. The answer depends on the entity documents, U.S. classification, ownership and attribution, contributions, distributions, liabilities, transactions, books, and filing year. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the reporting questions that need work, and define the preparation or specialist scope that should come next.
Open this pathForeign gift consultation
Received Money or Property From Abroad? Identify the Real Donor, Reporting Path, and Basis Records Before You File.
A transfer called a gift is not automatically income or automatically Form 3520. The answer depends on your U.S. status, the ultimate donor, related persons and intermediaries, whether a trust or entity was involved, dates and values, covered-expatriate history, donor basis, and what happened after receipt. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the U.S. reporting questions, and define the records, preparation work, or specialist referral needed next.
Open this pathU.S. rental property abroad consultation
Own U.S. Rental Property While Living Abroad? Map the Owner, Federal, State, and Withholding Rules Before You File.
Keeping U.S. real estate after a move abroad creates more than a line for net rent. The filing depends on who owns the property, each owner’s U.S. tax status, rental and personal use, services, gross receipts, basis and depreciation, loss limits, the property state, foreign-country tax, prior filings, and any pending sale. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the records and possible reporting paths, and define the next scope without treating Schedule E, a foreign-owner election, a deductible loss, or FIRPTA as automatic.
Open this pathForeign rental property consultation
Renting Property Outside the U.S.? Map the Owner, Activity, and Annual Filing Before You Prepare the Return.
A foreign rental can involve more than rent converted to dollars. The U.S. filing depends on who owns the property, personal-use days, tenant services, placed-in-service dates, U.S.-dollar basis, foreign depreciation, currencies, loss limits, local taxes, accounts, entities, and prior filings. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the possible annual reporting channels, and define the records and next scope without assuming Schedule E, Form 8858, a foreign tax credit, or a deductible loss.
Open this pathTax treaty position consultation
Relying on a U.S. Tax Treaty? Map the Article, Saving Clause, and Disclosure Before You File.
A treaty position starts with the U.S. rule that would apply without the treaty, then the treaty and protocol in force, your status and eligibility, the exact income or transaction, the saving clause, and any disclosure. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the records and return work required, and determine whether the next step fits FileAbroad or needs a treaty specialist.
Open this pathMoving abroad consultation
Moving Abroad? Build Your Departure-Year Tax Map Before the Dates, Payroll, and Records Get Harder to Fix.
A move abroad can change where you work, which country taxes income, how payroll and estimates operate, what a former state may still claim, and which accounts, assets, entities, or property create reporting questions. It does not automatically produce FEIE, end state residence, or settle foreign tax. In a paid consultation, I organize the proposed move, identify the U.S. workstreams and foreign referrals, and give you a records and filing checklist for the departure year.
Open this pathMoving back to the U.S. consultation
Moving Back to the U.S.? Map the Tax Transition Before the Move.
Moving back changes where you perform work, which state may tax you, how FEIE and foreign tax credits fit the transition year, and which foreign accounts, investments, entities, pensions, and properties still need attention. In a paid consultation, I map the move date, work and income periods, foreign taxes, withholding, planned transactions, and prior filings so you can see what needs review before and after arrival.
Open this pathDigital nomad tax consultation
Working From Country to Country? Map Your Tax Home, Workdays, Income, and Filing Footprint Before You File.
Digital nomad is a lifestyle label, not a tax status or automatic FEIE result. Your U.S. filing position depends on citizenship or residency, full travel calendar, tax home and abode, where services were performed, employee or business structure, foreign taxes, social coverage, state ties, accounts, assets, and prior filings. In a paid consultation, I map that moving fact pattern and define the U.S. work and foreign referrals that should come next.
Open this pathRemote employee abroad consultation
Working Abroad for a U.S. Employer? Map the Workdays, Payroll, and U.S. Return Before You File.
A U.S. W-2 does not make every workday U.S.-source, and working abroad does not automatically qualify every dollar for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or resolve payroll. In a paid consultation, I map where you worked, how you were employed and paid, the U.S. return and withholding questions, and the social-security, state, or foreign-adviser issues that need a separate next step.
Open this pathEquity compensation abroad consultation
Stock Options or RSUs Across Borders? Map the Grant-to-Sale Tax Timeline Before You Act or File.
Cross-border equity can create wage, source, payroll, alternative minimum tax, foreign tax credit, basis, and sale questions at different times. The answer depends on the instrument, plan terms, grant and vesting conditions, work locations, exercise or settlement, sale, foreign taxes, currency, and prior reporting. In a paid consultation, I map that timeline and define the calculation, preparation, or specialist work that should come next.
Open this pathForeign employer consultation
Paid by a Foreign Employer? Map Your U.S. Wage, Payroll, Benefits, and Social-Tax Questions Before You File.
Foreign payroll does not automatically tell you what belongs on a U.S. return. The answer depends on your U.S. status, legal employer, employee relationship, work locations, pay and benefit components, foreign taxes, social coverage, currency, and prior filings. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, separate employee-side U.S. reporting from employer and local-law issues, and define the preparation or referral work that should come next.
Open this pathDual citizen tax consultation
Dual Citizen? Map Your U.S. Tax Position Across Countries.
Dual citizenship is a nationality fact, not a special U.S. tax regime. A second passport does not end U.S. status or automatically create treaty relief. Filing can turn on year-specific income thresholds, where you and your spouse were tax resident, what each country taxed, prior FEIE, foreign-tax-credit or treaty positions, and how foreign accounts, investments, pensions, businesses, and trusts are held. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, prior filings, and the work that must be resolved before preparation begins.
Open this pathGreen card holder abroad consultation
Living Abroad With a Green Card? Map Your U.S. Tax Status Before You File—or End It.
Living abroad or holding an expired physical card does not, by itself, settle your U.S. tax status. The answer can depend on the lawful-permanent-resident timeline, any formal abandonment or treaty position, U.S. presence, prior returns, and long-term-resident rules. In a paid consultation, I organize those facts into a year-by-year tax and filing map, identify the records and specialist questions that remain, and route the next step without giving immigration advice.
Open this pathLate expat returns consultation
Behind on U.S. Tax Returns Abroad? Map What Was Missed Before You Choose a Filing Path.
Late U.S. returns are not automatically a Streamlined case. The next step depends on which returns, income, international information forms, and FBARs are missing; where you lived; what happened after you learned about the obligations; whether the IRS contacted you; and which deadlines remain open. In a paid consultation, I build the year-by-year filing map, identify procedure and referral questions, and define the next practical scope.
Open this pathIRS notice abroad consultation
Received an IRS Notice While Abroad? Identify the Deadline and Response Path Before You Act.
An IRS letter can request information, propose a change, demand payment, begin an examination, or carry appeal, collection, or court rights. The notice number, tax period, issue, amount, response date, prior contacts, and current posture determine the next step. In a paid consultation, I organize those facts, identify the records and procedural lane that need attention, and confirm FileAbroad’s preparation boundary or the referral you need.
Open this pathAmended expat return consultation
Found an Error in a Filed U.S. Expat Return? Map the Right Correction Before You Amend.
Form 1040-X is one correction tool, not the answer to every filed-return problem. Timing, the original filing, the error, affected forms, refund or balance, international reporting, IRS contact, and state consequences can point to different procedures. In a paid consultation, I review those facts to identify the correction questions, records, and preparation or referral path.
Open this pathForeign accounts consultation
Own or Control Accounts Outside the U.S.? Map What Must Be Reported Before You File.
A foreign account does not automatically mean FBAR, Form 8938, or both. The answer depends on U.S. status, account type and location, legal ownership, signature authority, entity or trust relationships, values, filing status, residence, and the year. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, separate account reporting from income reporting, and identify the preparation or correction work that needs a separate scope.
Open this pathForeign home sale consultation
Selling a Home Abroad? Map the U.S. Tax Before You File.
A foreign home sale can produce a U.S. tax result that does not match the local closing statement. Ownership, principal-residence and rental history, U.S.-dollar basis and proceeds, depreciation, and the foreign tax actually imposed can all change the answer. In a paid consultation, I map the Section 121, gain, currency, foreign-tax-credit, and reporting questions that need to be resolved before preparation begins.
Open this pathForeign business sale consultation
Selling a Business Abroad? Map the U.S. Tax Before You Sign or File.
Shares, a partnership interest, and business assets can produce very different U.S. tax results. The analysis starts with the entity’s U.S. classification, who the seller is, what is transferred, basis and prior earnings, payment terms, foreign tax, currency, and filing history—not the local deal label. In a paid consultation, I map those facts, identify the U.S. income and reporting issues that need further work, and define the next practical scope.
Open this pathForeign inheritance consultation
Received an Inheritance From Abroad? Map the U.S. Tax and Reporting Before You Move or Sell the Assets.
An inheritance is not automatically taxable income, but that does not settle the U.S. filing. The decedent’s status, estate or trust, receipt date, asset type, value and basis, foreign tax, and what happened after the transfer can lead to different U.S. questions. In a paid consultation, I review those facts and prior filings to identify the next reporting, preparation, or referral step.
Open this pathForeign life insurance consultation
Own a Foreign Life Insurance Policy? Map the U.S. Tax Before You File or Take Money Out.
A policy sold as life insurance abroad does not automatically receive ordinary U.S. life-insurance treatment. The contract terms, cash value, investment features, ownership, premiums, and policy transactions can change the analysis. In a paid consultation, I identify the classification, income, and reporting questions that need further review before preparation begins.
Open this pathWhat to expect
A clear path from questions to scope
- 1
Start the intake
Choose the general path or the pathway closest to your situation.
- 2
Share the broad facts
Tell us where you live, what years are involved, what you earn or own, and what feels unclear.
- 3
Review the next step
The consultation identifies likely forms, records, scope questions, and any boundary that needs another professional.
- 4
Receive the written scope
If FileAbroad can accept the engagement, the scope and preparation terms are documented before work begins.
- 5
Approve before preparation
Preparation starts only after you understand and approve the accepted work.
Before you book
Consultation questions
What happens before any preparation work begins?
The consultation identifies the facts, records, years, and questions that control the next step. If FileAbroad can accept the work, you receive the preparation scope in writing before preparation begins.
Should I upload tax documents before the consultation?
No. Use the preliminary intake for broad facts only. Do not send Social Security numbers, account numbers, passports, or tax documents through the public form or unencrypted channels. Secure upload instructions come after an accepted scope.
Can the consultation determine whether I am legally eligible?
No. FileAbroad does not issue legal opinions, determine willfulness, represent taxpayers before the IRS, or guarantee an outcome. Higher-risk questions are identified for an appropriate referral or reviewer.
Consultation first · Written scope
Ready to clarify your filing path?
Start the preliminary intake. Do not send sensitive tax documents through the public form.