Nomadic.Tax
Document Checklist

What Tax Documents Do Expats and Digital Nomads Need?

Gathering the right documents before starting your tax filing saves time and avoids delays. The exact documents depend on your situation — US expat, UK non-resident, digital nomad, or a combination — but there's a core set that almost every cross-border filer needs, plus additional documents depending on your income type and foreign accounts.

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APPLICABILITY/WHO THIS IS FOR

Who this is for

✓ US expats and green card holders preparing for annual US tax filing
✓ UK non-residents or digital nomads with UK Self Assessment obligations
✓ Anyone with foreign bank accounts that may require FBAR or Form 8938
✓ Self-employed nomads tracking business income and expenses
✓ First-time filers with Nomadic.Tax who want to prepare before getting started
FILING RECORD/FORMS THAT MAY APPLY

What this filing may involve

Every situation is different. The forms below commonly apply — your specific filing may vary.

US Form 1040 — requires income, deduction, and credit documentation
Form 2555 — FEIE) — requires travel records and foreign employer documentation
FinCEN Form 114 — FBAR) — requires account numbers, institution names, and max balances
UK SA100 — requires income records, expense receipts, and residence evidence
DOCUMENTS/INFORMATION REQUIRED

Documents usually needed

■ Passport showing entry and exit dates for each country you visited
■ All income statements — W-2s, 1099s, foreign pay slips, freelance invoices, platform statements
■ Foreign bank account statements showing maximum balances throughout the year
■ Records of foreign taxes paid (annual tax summary from local authority or accountant)
■ Prior year tax return (US and/or UK) if previously filed
■ Self-employment income and expense ledger or accounting software export
■ Rental income records if you own property
■ Social Security number, ITIN, or National Insurance number as applicable
■ Evidence of overseas residence (lease agreement, utility bills, work contract)
PROCESS/RETURN ASSEMBLY

How Nomadic.Tax works

AI-assisted preparation with licensed professional review — every time.

1
INFORMATION
Complete our onboarding questionnaire — it tells you exactly which documents apply to your situation
2
DOCUMENTS
Upload everything securely to your Nomadic.Tax dashboard
3
AI PREPARATION
Our system flags any gaps or missing items before your CPA review
4
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW / E-FILE
A licensed professional verifies completeness and requests any additional items before filing
PROFESSIONAL REVIEW/CPA / ACCOUNTANT SIGN-OFF

When human review matters

ⓘ Self-employed filers often underestimate the records needed — we provide a detailed checklist in your dashboard
ⓘ FBAR account details require the maximum balance during the year, not just the year-end balance
ⓘ Currency conversions are handled by our system — you can provide balances in local currency

Relevant plans

Choose the package that best fits your situation, or view all plans.

Standard
$249
Best for US-based taxpayers with salary or simple remote work.
  • ✓Automatic online filing
  • ✓One federal + one state return
  • ✓W-2, 1099 and basic deductions
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Premier
$349
For self-employed nomads, freelancers and platform earners.
  • ✓Everything in Standard
  • ✓Schedule C & SE for self-employment
  • ✓Multiple income sources and currencies
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Most popular

Expat
$499
For Americans living abroad — FEIE, foreign tax credits and FBAR included.
  • ✓Everything in Premier
  • ✓Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555)
  • ✓Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116)
  • ✓FBAR filing (FinCEN 114) included
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REFERENCE/COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions about What Tax Documents Do Expats and Digital Nomads Need?

Do I need to provide physical documents or can I upload photos?

PDF or high-quality photo uploads through our secure dashboard are accepted. We don't require original physical documents. Bank statements exported as PDFs, employer pay summaries, and photo scans of paper documents are all fine.

What if I don't have records from prior years?

You may be able to obtain copies from your bank, employer, or the relevant tax authority. For FBAR purposes, banks are typically able to provide historical account statements. We'll advise on the minimum documentation required for your specific situation.

I'm a freelancer — what counts as a deductible business expense?

For US filers with Schedule C: business software, internet, home office (if exclusively and regularly used for business), professional development, marketing, contractor payments, and travel directly related to business may be deductible. We review all claimed deductions to ensure they meet IRS standards.

Do I need to provide documents for years I don't owe any tax?

Yes. Even if FEIE eliminates all income tax, you still need income records to support the exclusion, travel records to demonstrate qualification, and account records for FBAR if applicable. The documentation requirement exists regardless of tax owed.

Who is this for?

Browse by your situation for tailored guidance and the right package.

US Expats Abroad Documents checklist for Americans abroad preparing their annual US tax return. See who this is for → Digital Nomads What nomads need to gather before filing their multi-country tax return. See who this is for →

Related filing services

US Expat Tax Filing → View filing service FBAR Filing — FinCEN Form 114 → View filing service UK Self Assessment for Non-Residents → View filing service Tax Filing for Digital Nomads → View filing service

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