U.S. EXPAT TAX SERVICES
U.S. Tax Support Wherever Work and Life Take You.
Living abroad can change how you earn, bank, invest, work, and plan—but it does not necessarily end your U.S. tax filing obligations. Continental Accountants provides CPA-led U.S. tax preparation, foreign-income and foreign-account reporting, planning, and prior-year filing support for U.S. taxpayers living and working around the world.
EXPAT TAX CAPABILITIES
U.S. tax obligations abroad can involve more than one filing, form, or decision.
Continental Accountants helps U.S. taxpayers abroad address annual tax compliance, foreign income, foreign financial accounts, state tax considerations, prior-year filing gaps, and planning needs that can change as work, residency, and financial circumstances evolve.
FOREIGN INCOME & DOUBLE TAXATION
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or Foreign Tax Credit? The right answer depends on the facts.
Americans working abroad often hear about the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit. Both can affect the U.S. tax treatment of foreign income, but they operate differently. The appropriate approach can depend on where you live, how much you earn, foreign taxes paid, the type of income involved, and your longer-term tax circumstances.
FOREIGN ACCOUNTS & ASSET REPORTING
FBAR and FATCA are different reporting requirements—and one does not necessarily replace the other.
U.S. taxpayers abroad may have reporting obligations connected to foreign financial accounts and specified foreign financial assets even when those assets do not generate additional U.S. tax. Understanding what is owned, where it is held, its value, and the applicable reporting thresholds is an important part of expatriate tax compliance.
SELF-EMPLOYED & BUSINESS TAXPAYERS ABROAD
Working for yourself abroad can make the U.S. tax picture more complex.
Consultants, independent contractors, freelancers, and business owners living abroad can face U.S. tax considerations beyond those of a traditional employee. Business income, self-employment tax, estimated payments, entity structure, foreign accounts, state tax exposure, and international reporting may need to be considered alongside the individual U.S. tax return.
INTERNATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS & MISSION-DRIVEN WORK
Working abroad for a government contractor, nonprofit, NGO, or international organization can create a different U.S. tax profile.
International assignments can involve more than foreign wages. Compensation structure, housing, allowances, self-employment or consulting income, state residency, foreign accounts, travel patterns, and the length and location of an assignment can all affect the U.S. tax analysis. Continental Accountants brings tax, accounting, government contracting, and nonprofit experience together when these worlds overlap.
PRIOR-YEAR & CATCH-UP EXPAT TAX FILINGS
Been living abroad and haven't filed U.S. taxes for several years? Start by understanding what actually needs to be filed.
Some Americans living abroad discover years later that they still had U.S. tax or foreign-account reporting obligations. Others need to address their filing history because of an immigration, financial, employment, family, or other life event. Continental Accountants helps clients reconstruct their filing history, identify gaps, evaluate the appropriate compliance path, prepare applicable prior-year filings, and establish a process for staying current.
MOVING ABROAD & RETURNING TO THE U.S.
The tax transition begins before the move—and it does not necessarily end when you return.
Moving outside the United States or returning after years abroad can change income, residency, state tax exposure, foreign-account reporting, investments, employment, business activity, and filing requirements. Planning around the transition can help identify U.S. tax questions before important financial and personal decisions are already fixed.
HOW WE SUPPORT U.S. TAXPAYERS ABROAD
A structured tax process—combined with accounting, business, and international perspective.
Expat tax work can involve multiple countries, currencies, employers, businesses, financial accounts, prior tax years, and reporting requirements. Continental Accountants combines a secure, structured tax process with broader accounting and advisory experience so the work is organized around the taxpayer’s complete financial circumstances—not only the forms being filed.
U.S. EXPAT TAX FAQ
Common questions about U.S. taxes while living and working abroad.
U.S. taxpayers abroad often face questions that cross income tax, foreign accounts, residency, prior-year filings, business activity, and international mobility. These answers provide a starting point. The appropriate tax treatment ultimately depends on the taxpayer’s individual facts and circumstances.
READY TO DISCUSS YOUR U.S. TAX SITUATION?
Wherever you are in the expat tax lifecycle, start with a clear understanding of what comes next.
Whether you are preparing your annual U.S. tax return, reporting foreign accounts, working abroad as a consultant or business owner, addressing prior-year filings, planning an international move, or returning to the United States, Continental Accountants can help you evaluate your U.S. tax requirements and determine the appropriate next steps.
CPA-led U.S. tax support • Secure remote collaboration • Serving U.S. taxpayers across borders