US Expat Tax Filing
As a US citizen or green card holder living abroad, you're required to file a US federal tax return each year, regardless of where in the world you live. The good news: powerful tools like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) and Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) often reduce your actual tax bill to zero. We specialise in this exact situation, handling everything from FEIE elections to FBAR, reviewed by licensed CPAs.
Get started with your filingWho this is for
- ✓ US citizens or permanent residents (green card holders) living outside the United States
- ✓ Americans employed by foreign companies or self-employed from abroad
- ✓ Expats receiving foreign pension, rental, or investment income
- ✓ Those who may need to file FBAR (foreign bank account report)
- ✓ Americans who have been living abroad but haven't yet filed US returns
What this filing may involve
Every situation is different. The forms below commonly apply — your specific filing may vary.
- 1 Form 1040 (US Individual Income Tax Return)
- 2 Form 2555 — Foreign Earned Income Exclusion election
- 3 Form 1116 — Foreign Tax Credit (for taxes paid to foreign governments)
- 4 FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR) — if foreign accounts exceeded $10,000
- 5 Schedule C — if self-employed or running a sole proprietorship abroad
- 6 Form 8938 — Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets (FATCA)
- 7 State returns — some US states continue to tax former residents
Documents usually needed
- 📄 Passport or government-issued ID
- 📄 Foreign employer pay slips or income statements (annual summary)
- 📄 Bank statements for all foreign financial accounts
- 📄 Prior year US tax return (if available)
- 📄 Records of days spent inside and outside the United States
- 📄 Foreign tax paid receipts or annual tax summary from local authority
- 📄 Social Security number or ITIN
How Nomadic.Tax works
AI-assisted preparation with licensed professional review — every time.
Complete our short questionnaire about your income, residency, and situation
Upload your documents securely through your Nomadic.Tax dashboard
Our AI drafts your return, applying the correct FEIE or FTC strategy for your country
A licensed CPA reviews every line before we e-file on your behalf
When human review matters
- ⓘ FEIE vs Foreign Tax Credit decisions require careful analysis of your specific country and income level
- ⓘ State tax obligations depend on your domicile state and may require separate returns
- ⓘ If you have significant investment income, rental income, or foreign pension plans, additional forms may apply
[INSERT: customer testimonial, e.g. "software engineer in Berlin, Germany, saved money and stress using Nomadic.Tax"]
- software engineer, Berlin, Germany
Relevant plans
Choose the package that best fits your situation, or view all plans.
- ✓ Everything in Premier
- ✓ Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555)
- ✓ Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116)
- ✓ FBAR filing (FinCEN 114) included
- ✓ Everything in Expat
- ✓ Schedules D & E for investments and rentals
- ✓ Foreign asset reporting (Form 8938)
- ✓ FBAR filing (FinCEN 114) included
- ✓ Up to 6 years of FBAR
- ✓ Prepared for streamlined compliance
Frequently asked questions about US Expat Tax Filing
Do I have to file a US tax return if I live abroad?
Yes. The US taxes citizens and green card holders on worldwide income regardless of where they live. You must file a return if your income exceeds the filing threshold (approximately $13,850 for single filers in 2024). However, the FEIE and FTC often reduce or eliminate your actual tax bill.
What is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion?
The FEIE (claimed on Form 2555) allows qualifying US citizens abroad to exclude up to $126,500 (2024) of foreign-earned income from US taxable income. You must pass either the Physical Presence Test (330 days outside the US in any 12-month period) or the Bona Fide Residence Test.
What is the deadline for US expat tax filing?
Americans abroad receive an automatic 2-month extension to June 15 (no form required). A further extension to October 15 can be requested by filing Form 4868. Note: any tax owed is still due by April 15 to avoid interest.
What if I also owe tax in my country of residence?
The Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) allows you to offset your US tax liability with income taxes paid to a foreign government, dollar for dollar. In high-tax countries like the UK or Germany, this typically eliminates any remaining US tax owed.
Can you file multiple years if I haven't filed before?
Yes. Our Catch-Up packages (Standard and Premier) are designed for expats who need to file 3 or more years of back returns, including using the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure to catch up with penalties waived.