If you are an American in London who has just realised you should have been filing US taxes, the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures are almost certainly your route back — and choosing the right specialist makes the difference between a clean, penalty-free catch-up and an expensive mess. This guide explains what an IRS streamlined filing specialist in London should actually offer, and how to choose one with confidence.
Why a specialist matters for streamlined filing
Streamlined filing is not just three tax returns. It is a complete amnesty package — three years of returns, six years of FBARs, and a signed Form 14653 certifying that your failure to file was non-willful — and the IRS reads that certification carefully. The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures set the rules; our complete 2026 guide to streamlined filing for UK expats walks through them step by step. A generalist accountant who occasionally touches US returns can get the numbers right and still sink the case with a weak non-willful statement. A genuine streamlined specialist does this every week.
What "streamlined filing specialist" should mean
The title is not regulated, so look past it to the credentials and the track record. A real specialist serving London expats should have:
- A US credential that can sign and represent — an IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) or US CPA, not just a UK qualification.
- Genuine volume of streamlined cases, not one or two a year.
- In-house FBAR and Form 8938 capability — the package needs all of it.
- Comfort drafting the Form 14653 non-willful narrative, which is the heart of the submission.
- Ideally a dual US/UK team, so the UK side (pensions, ISAs, Self Assessment) is handled too.
Questions to ask a London streamlined specialist
- Are you an IRS Enrolled Agent or US CPA, and who signs the returns and Form 14653?
- How many Streamlined Foreign Offshore submissions do you complete each year?
- Do you assess whether I actually qualify as non-willful before we start?
- Will you prepare all six FBARs and any Form 8621 (PFIC) for my ISAs and funds?
- Do you give a fixed, written fee for the whole package up front?
- What happens — and what does it cost — if the IRS queries my submission afterwards?
Red flags to walk away from
- No US credential in the firm, yet happy to sign your US returns.
- Treating Form 14653 as a tick-box rather than a carefully drafted statement.
- Promising the IRS will "definitely" accept it — no one can guarantee that.
- Ignoring your ISAs and pensions, which usually carry PFIC and reporting issues.
- Vague or open-ended fees with no written quote before work begins.
What the engagement actually looks like
A well-run streamlined engagement in London follows a clear path, and a good specialist will tell you up front roughly how long each stage takes.
- Eligibility check — confirm non-willful conduct and the non-residency requirement.
- Document gathering — income, UK accounts, pensions and investments for the relevant years.
- Prepare 3 years of US returns, applying the FEIE and/or Foreign Tax Credit.
- Prepare and e-file 6 years of FBARs through FinCEN's BSA system.
- Draft and sign Form 14653, then mail the paper return package to the IRS streamlined unit.
What does streamlined filing cost in London?
Fees vary with complexity — the number of accounts, whether you hold PFICs (UK funds and Stocks & Shares ISAs), and whether any US tax is actually due. What matters is that a reputable London specialist gives you a fixed, written quote for the whole package before starting, rather than an open hourly meter. You should know the total for three returns, six FBARs and the certification up front.
Do you have to be in London?
No. "London specialist" is really about US/UK expertise, not your postcode. A good streamlined specialist works with US persons anywhere in the UK — and anywhere in the world — over video calls and secure document portals. If you are in Manchester, Edinburgh or a village in Kent, the same team can handle your streamlined submission remotely.
