Topic library

PFIC

18 resources covering pfic for Americans living or filing abroad.

Blog

August 5, 2026

Foreign Life Insurance and U.S. Tax Reporting: Cash Value, PFIC, Trust, and Policy Transactions

How a foreign life-insurance or annuity contract can raise separate U.S. questions about section 7702 treatment, cash value, Form 8938, FBAR, PFICs, foreign trusts, surrender, loans, and death benefits—without assuming the product label decides the result.

Blog

August 5, 2026

Foreign Mutual Funds: A Document Request Checklist

A records-first guide to foreign mutual funds: a document request checklist, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 5, 2026

Form 8621 vs Form 8938: When Foreign Funds Trigger Both

A records-first guide to form 8621 vs form 8938: when foreign funds trigger both, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 5, 2026

PFIC Consultation Checklist for Foreign Fund Owners

A records-first guide to pfic consultation checklist for foreign fund owners, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 5, 2026

PFIC Foreign Pensions: Where the Analysis Changes

A records-first guide to pfic foreign pensions: where the analysis changes, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 5, 2026

PFIC QEF vs Mark-to-Market: A Decision Framework

A records-first guide to pfic qef vs mark-to-market: a decision framework, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 5, 2026

What is a PFIC and Why It Terrifies Expats

A records-first guide to what is a pfic and why it terrifies expats, including the questions to classify, documents to gather, related U.S. forms, and when a written scope helps.

Blog

August 3, 2026

French Assurance-Vie: U.S. Tax and Reporting Questions

What Americans abroad should collect before analyzing a French assurance-vie policy for income, PFIC, FATCA, FBAR, trust, and treaty questions.

Blog

August 3, 2026

PFIC Excess Distribution Method: Section 1291 Explained

Learn how the PFIC excess-distribution method works, when the section 1291 rules can apply, and why Form 8621 elections require a holding-period review.

Blog

August 3, 2026

Foreign Insurance Policies and PFIC Questions for Expats

How to review foreign life insurance and investment-linked policies for PFIC, Form 8938, FBAR, and income-reporting questions.

Blog

August 3, 2026

PFIC Mark-to-Market Election: When It May Apply

Understand the Form 8621 mark-to-market election for publicly traded PFIC stock, timing issues, annual income treatment, and the records needed to evaluate it.

Blog

August 3, 2026

UK ISA and PFIC Tax for U.S. Taxpayers

Why a UK ISA requires a U.S. tax review, how foreign funds can create PFIC questions, and which records to gather before assuming the account is tax-free.

Blog

July 31, 2026

Are Foreign Mutual Funds PFICs? What Expats Need to Know

Foreign mutual funds, UCITS, OEICs, and unit trusts inside ISAs are almost always PFICs. Learn why and what US expats should hold instead.

Blog

July 31, 2026

What Is a PFIC? A Practical Guide for American Expats

Learn how the PFIC income and asset tests work, why many foreign pooled investments require review, and how Form 8621 treatment can differ by fund and election.

Blog

July 30, 2026

PFIC Questions Inside a Foreign Pension: Start With the Wrapper

Foreign pensions that hold pooled investments can create PFIC and trust-classification questions for U.S. taxpayers. Learn what to verify for UK SIPPs, Australian superannuation, Canadian RRSPs, and other retirement wrappers.

Blog

July 30, 2026

How to Identify PFICs in Your Portfolio: A Checklist for US Expats

Use this practical checklist to screen for PFICs in a foreign investment portfolio. Learn the red flags, what documents to request, and what to ask before buying a foreign fund.

Blog

July 30, 2026

PFIC Mark-to-Market vs. QEF: Which Election Should You Make?

QEF and mark-to-market are different PFIC elections with different information and timing requirements. Learn how each works, when a fund statement is needed, and what to verify before changing an election.

Blog

July 30, 2026

UK SIPPs for US Taxpayers: Trust Reporting, Treaty Benefits, and PFIC Risks

UK Self-Invested Personal Pensions can create U.S. treaty, trust, retirement, and PFIC questions. Learn what to document and how to review a SIPP without assuming that one filing position applies to every plan.