Bright!Tax US Expat Tax Blog

Itemized Deductions vs. Standard Deduction: an Expat’s Guide

It’s a question that comes up for expats almost every year: “Should I choose the standard deduction or itemized deductions?” The answer — as with so many things in life — is “it depends.” But if you need help choosing between itemized deductions vs. the standard deduction, we’re here to help. While the standard deduction […]

RMD Taxation for US Expats Near Retirement: a Guide

After years of saving for retirement, if you hold qualified US retirement accounts, you’ll need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) at some point. While the rules around RMDs and RMD taxation are complex — especially if you live outside of the United States — they’re also essential to understand when retirement planning in order […]

ISO Taxation 101: a Guide for US Expats

At tech companies, startups, large publicly traded companies, and many other employers, incentive stock options (ISOs) are a common offering. If you’re a US expat with ISOs, you may stand to benefit financially from them in a significant way — especially if you keep ISO taxation in mind. The way the US taxes ISOs can […]

Continuing Education Tax Benefits: A Guide for Expats

Did you know you and your dependents can expand your knowledge and gain job skills while reducing your tax bill? The IRS offers a couple of different continuing education tax benefits, which can help offset higher education expenses by decreasing your tax burden. In many cases, even Americans attending an educational institution abroad are eligible […]

Spain or Portugal for Retirement: Which is Better?

In recent years, Portugal and Spain have become popular retirement destinations. It’s easy to see why — both countries boast rich cultures, natural beauty, great weather, and dedicated retirement visas. But when it comes to deciding on Spain or Portugal for retirement, which option should US expats choose as their home country? To help you […]

How to Start a Business in Another Country — & Why to Consider It

Is There a Foreign Tax Credit Limit?

Starting a business overseas may seem daunting — but it can bring major benefits. For high-earning, self-employed American expats in particular, registering a US-based C corporation and a Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) can lead to major savings on their US tax bill. Before you rush to file your articles of incorporation, though, you’ll want to […]