Insights & guides for Americans abroad.
Practical writing on FBAR, FATCA, FEIE, PFIC reporting, and cross-border planning — by our IRS Enrolled Agents and ACCA-qualified team. New articles every filing season.
LatestForm 1065Partnership Returns (Form 1065): US Expats with UK Business Partners
Going into business with a UK partner sounds simple — until the IRS wants a Form 1065 (or a Form 8865) and charges $255 per partner, per month, for filing it late. Here is what US expats must know.
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StreamlinedIRS Streamlined Filing Cost Breakdown: What You Actually Pay
The IRS Streamlined Procedures let Americans abroad catch up with — for many — a zero penalty. So what does it really cost? Here is the honest breakdown of penalties, professional fees and what drives the price.
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S-CorporationS-Corporation Returns for US Owners Living Abroad: 2026 Guide
An S-corp can be a smart US structure — but for an American living in the UK it can quietly become a tax trap. Here is how Form 1120-S works abroad, and the pitfalls that catch expat owners.
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ResidencyThe 183-Day Rule and Closer Connection: When Do You Owe US Tax?
Spend enough days in the US and you can become a US tax resident on your worldwide income — even without a green card. Here is how the Substantial Presence Test works and how to escape it.
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Choosing an AdviserBest Accountants for US Expats in the UK: 2026 Checklist
Most accountants do US or UK tax — very few do both well. Here is the checklist to find an adviser who can actually handle a dual US/UK filing without leaving money (or compliance) on the table.
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Form 3520Foreign Gift Reporting (Form 3520): A Guide for Americans with UK Family
A gift or inheritance from UK family is usually tax-free for a US person — but stay silent and the IRS can charge a penalty of 25% of the gift. Here is when Form 3520 is required.
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Form 5471Form 5471: When UK-Based Americans Must Report Foreign Corporations
Set up a UK limited company as a US person? You may owe the IRS one of its most complex forms — Form 5471 — with a $10,000 penalty per year for getting it wrong.
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PFICPFIC Elections: Mark-to-Market vs QEF for UK Investors Explained
Own a UK fund or ISA as a US person? You may hold a PFIC — and the election you make (QEF, mark-to-market, or none) decides whether it is merely annoying or genuinely punitive.
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Rental IncomeRental Income from US Property: How UK Residents File with the IRS
Renting out a US home while living in the UK puts you in both tax systems at once. Here is how the IRS taxes your rental, the net-election that slashes the bill, and how UK tax fits around it.
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Amended ReturnsAmended US Tax Returns: When to File Form 1040-X and What It Costs
Missed a foreign tax credit, forgot an FBAR-linked account, or claimed the wrong exclusion? Here is when an amended return (Form 1040-X) is the right fix, the three-year clock that governs refunds, and what it costs.
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ExpatriationExpatriation Tax: What Covered Expats Must File Before Renouncing US Citizenship (Form 8854)
Renouncing US citizenship is not just a trip to the embassy — it is a tax event. Here is how the exit tax works, who counts as a 'covered expatriate', and why Form 8854 is the step you cannot skip.
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Social SecuritySocial Security for Americans Living in the UK: What Gets Taxed?
US Social Security, the UK State Pension, the Totalization Agreement and the treaty all collide for Americans in Britain. Here is who taxes what — and why the country of residence usually wins.
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FTC vs FEIEForeign Tax Credit vs FEIE: Which Saves Americans in the UK More?
The Foreign Tax Credit and the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion both stop double tax — but for most Americans in the UK, one is clearly better. Here is how to choose.
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1040NRForm 1040NR for Non-Resident Aliens: A Complete UK Filing Guide for 2026
Form 1040NR is the US return for non-resident aliens with US income. Here is who files it, how US rental, business and investment income are taxed, and the treaty rates.
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Pre-ImmigrationPre-Immigration Tax Planning: What Americans Must Do Before Moving to the UK
The most valuable tax planning happens before you land in the UK — not after. Here is what Americans should sort out in the window before becoming UK tax resident.
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State TaxState Tax for Americans Abroad: Which States Still Claim You?
Federal isn't the whole story. Some US states keep taxing you after you move to the UK. Here are the 'sticky states', how domicile works, and how to cut ties cleanly.
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RetirementUS 401(k) and IRA Accounts Explained for UK Residents in 2026
How are your US 401(k), traditional IRA and Roth IRA taxed once you live in the UK? The treaty, HMRC's position on lump sums, and the Roth advantage — explained for 2026.
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Catching UpHow Many Years of US Returns Do Expats Need to File? The Real Answer
Behind on your US taxes in the UK? You almost certainly do not need to file every year since you left. Here is the real answer — 3 years, 6 years, and how the streamlined programme works.
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Choosing an AdvisorAccountants for US Expats in the UK: ACCA vs EA — Which Do You Need?
ACCA, CPA, Enrolled Agent — the letters matter. Here is what each credential actually means for Americans in the UK, and why most expats need both the US and UK sides covered.
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Green Card HoldersGreen Card Holders in the UK: US Tax Obligations in 2026
Holding a US Green Card while living in the UK keeps you fully inside the US tax system. Here is what you must file, the exit-tax trap, and how to stay compliant in 2026.
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DeadlinesUS Tax Return Deadlines 2026: Every Date Americans in the UK Must Know
Americans in the UK get extra time to file — but not to pay. Here are all the key US tax deadlines for 2026: 15 April, the automatic June extension, October, FBAR and estimated taxes.
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Child Tax CreditThe Child Tax Credit for Americans Abroad: How UK Families Claim Up to $1,700 Back
Americans in the UK can claim the US Child Tax Credit — up to $2,200 per child for 2025, with $1,700 refundable. But only if you avoid one common mistake. Here is how it works.
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Mixed-Nationality CouplesMarried to a Non-American? Your US Tax Filing Options in the UK
If you are a US citizen in the UK married to a non-American, your default status is Married Filing Separately — but a joint election or Head of Household may save more. Here are your options.
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Self-Employed · TotalizationSelf-Employed American in the UK? The Totalization Agreement and Self-Employment Tax
Self-employed Americans in the UK can usually avoid the 15.3% US self-employment tax under the US-UK totalization agreement. Here is how it works and how to choose a specialist.
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UK Home · US CGTSelling Your UK Home: US Capital Gains Tax for Americans Abroad
Selling a UK home can trigger US capital gains tax even when the UK charges nothing. Here is how the $250k/$500k exclusion, the mortgage currency trap and the foreign tax credit work.
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UK Pensions · SIPPsUS Tax on UK Pensions and SIPPs: A Guide for Americans in the UK
Yes, the US can tax your UK pension. Here is how SIPPs, workplace pensions and the 25% tax-free lump sum are treated under the US-UK treaty — and how to report them.
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Tax TreatyThe US–UK Tax Treaty Explained: How It Stops (and Doesn't Stop) Double Taxation
The US/UK tax treaty decides which country taxes what — and its saving clause is why Americans in the UK still file with the IRS. Here is how the treaty actually works in plain English.
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FBAR vs FATCAFBAR vs FATCA: A Plain-English Guide for Americans in the UK
FBAR and FATCA are two different US foreign-account filings — and most Americans in the UK have to do both. Here is the plain-English difference, the thresholds, and what counts.
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FEIE 2026Foreign Earned Income Exclusion 2026: Everything UK Expats Need to Know
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets US expats exclude up to $132,900 of earned income for 2026. Here is how the FEIE works, who qualifies, and how to claim it from the UK.
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Streamlined · LondonIRS Streamlined Filing Specialists in London: How to Choose One
Catching up on US taxes through the Streamlined Procedures? Here is how to choose an IRS streamlined filing specialist in London — the credentials that matter, the questions to ask, and the red flags.
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FBAR · FinCENUnderstanding FBAR: When You Need to File FinCEN 114
Any US person with over $10,000 in foreign accounts at any point in the year must file. Here is how it works — and the penalties if you do not.
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Streamlined FilingIRS Streamlined Filing: The Complete 2026 Guide for UK Expats
Behind on your US taxes in the UK? The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures let non-willful Americans abroad catch up penalty-free. Here is exactly how the streamlined offshore procedures work in 2026.
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PFIC · ISAsPFIC Rules and UK ISAs: What Americans Abroad Need to Know
Your tax-free UK ISA might cost you thousands in US tax. We break down the Form 8621 implications for US persons holding UK funds.
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Filing SeasonUS Tax Filing for Americans in the UK: 2026 Guide
Deadlines, thresholds, and the forms every American living in the UK needs to understand this filing season.
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US Tax ReturnsHow US Tax Returns Work for Americans Living in the UK
Filing a 1040 from abroad confuses almost everyone the first time. Here is the plain-English version of how US tax returns work for Americans in the UK — who files, the deadlines, the forms, and how to avoid being taxed twice.
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Choosing an AdvisorUS Tax Specialists in the UK: What to Look for in 2026
Not every accountant who says yes to a US return is the right fit. Here is how to choose a genuine US tax specialist in the UK — the credentials, the questions to ask, and the red flags.
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