Do I have to file taxes if I live abroad?

Yes. The US taxes citizenship, not residency. You must file if your worldwide income exceeds the standard deduction ($14,600 for singles in 2024), regardless of where you live.

What is the deadline for Expats?

Expats get an automatic extension to June 15th to file. However, any tax owed is due by April 15th to avoid interest. You can request further extension to October 15th.

Does the FEIE cover self-employment tax?

No. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion only applies to income tax. It does NOT eliminate Social Security/Medicare tax unless you are in a country with a Totalization Agreement.

What if I haven't filed in years?

The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures allow you to file the last 3 years of tax returns and 6 years of FBARs. By certifying your failure was 'non-willful', you can usually avoid all late filing penalties. Our $499 package handles this entire process.

What is the difference between FBAR and FATCA?

FBAR (FinCEN 114) is required if you have over $10,000 USD total in foreign accounts. FATCA (Form 8938) is for 'Specified Foreign Assets' with much higher thresholds (usually $200k+ for expats). We check both automatically.

2026 Filing Season Ready

Expat Taxes without
the "Expat Price."

Big firms charge $500+ because they can. We use technology to file your FEIE, FBAR, and State returns for just $99. CPA Reviewed. IRS Authorized.

* Instantly see if you meet the $10,000 threshold for FinCEN Form 114.

🌍 2,000+ Expats Served

🔒 CPA‑Reviewed

⚡ 150+ Countries

Calculate Savings Do I Need to File?

★ 4.9/5 Average Rating from 2,000+ Expats

Our Clients

Who We Serve

💻

Tech Professionals

Remote engineers, designers, product managers

✈️

Digital Nomads

Freelancers, consultants, location‑independent

🏛️

Diplomats & NGO

Foreign Service, UN, non‑profit workers

🏢

Corporate Expats

Executives on international assignment

📋 What Documents Do I Need?

Select your expat type and we'll generate your personal document checklist.

Employee Freelancer Investor

For Employee:

✓ Foreign tax returns or wage statements
✓ Passport copy
✓ Bank statements for FBAR
✓ Previous US tax return (if any)
✓ Foreign address

Simple Process

How Expat Tax Filing Works

Four steps from anywhere on Earth to fully filed US taxes.

Submit Intake

Tell us your country, income sources, and whether you're behind on filing.

Upload Documents

Securely send foreign income statements, bank details, and passport.

CPA Analysis

We determine FEIE vs. FTC, apply treaties, and calculate FBAR requirements.

E‑File & Confirm

We e‑file your return. You receive IRS confirmation for your records.

Full‑Service Promise

We Do Everything For You

You live your life abroad. We handle the IRS. Send us your documents — we take care of the rest.

✔️ Federal 1040 preparation with all required schedules
✔️ Form 2555 (Foreign Earned Income Exclusion — FEIE)
✔️ Form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit — FTC)
✔️ FEIE vs. FTC optimisation analysis
✔️ FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) filing
✔️ FATCA (Form 8938) compliance check
✔️ Tax treaty analysis (60+ US treaties)
✔️ Physical Presence Test & Bona Fide Residence Test
✔️ Self‑Employment tax strategy for freelancers
✔️ State tax domicile analysis & break‑up filings
✔️ Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures (amnesty)
✔️ Prior‑year catch‑up returns (3+ years)

Get Started – From $99

DIY vs. Yellow Business Services

Filing expat taxes on your own is risky. One missed form can trigger penalties. Here's the difference.

Feature	Yellow Business Services	DIY / Generic Software
FEIE (Form 2555)	✔ CPA‑verified, physical presence calculated	✘ Confusing, easy to miscalculate days
Foreign Tax Credit	✔ Optimised against FEIE for best outcome	✘ Often missed entirely
FBAR Filing	✔ Included, accurate to the dollar	✘ Not included in most tax software
Treaty Analysis	✔ Manual CPA review for your country	✘ Generic, no treaty optimisation
Streamlined Amnesty	✔ Full package: 3 returns + 6 FBARs + letter	✘ Not available in software
Cost (Federal)	$99 – $499	$0 – $400+ (plus costly mistakes)

✅ What Happens After Filing?

Immediately

You receive IRS acceptance confirmation
Your FBAR is on file with FinCEN
Any refund is processed by the IRS

Ongoing

Year‑round support if the IRS sends notices
Next year's filing is even faster
Streamlined clients are fully compliant

What Expats Say

"Yellow Business saved me $4,200 in taxes. I had no idea I could use the FEIE. Their CPA was incredibly thorough."

— Sarah L., UK

"The streamlined amnesty package was a lifesaver. I hadn't filed in 5 years, and they got me compliant without penalties."

— Mark T., Dubai

"Fast, professional, and a fraction of the cost of my old big‑4 firm. Highly recommend."

— Elena R., Germany

FEIE Savings Engine

See how much US tax you legally avoid using the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555).

Annual Foreign Income ($USD)

Filing Status

I am Self-Employed

Self-employed expats still owe 15.3% Social Security tax unless exempt by treaty.

Tax Without Exclusion $0

Exclusion Applied -$0

Estimated US Tax Bill $0

Do I Need to File?

Take this 10-second quiz to check your IRS obligation.

Are you a US Citizen or Green Card Holder?

Global Tax Guides

Specific strategies for where you live.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🇬🇧 UK Strategies

Tax Year Mismatch: We reconcile the UK tax year (April 6 - April 5) with the US calendar year.
ISAs: UK ISAs are NOT tax-free in the US. We report income to avoid penalties.
Strategy: UK tax rates are higher. We use the Foreign Tax Credit to wipe out your US bill and bank "credits" for future years.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🇨🇦 Canada Strategies

RRSP: Recognized by treaty. Growth is tax-deferred in the US.
TFSA: WARNING. The US does NOT recognize the TFSA. It is taxable and requires complex reporting (Forms 3520/8621).
PFICs: Avoid Canadian mutual funds/ETFs outside of retirement accounts. The US taxes them punitively.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🇦🇪 UAE / Dubai Strategies

No Income Tax: Since you pay $0 tax in UAE, you cannot use Foreign Tax Credits.
Strategy: You MUST use the FEIE (Form 2555).
The Trap: You must strictly adhere to the "330 Day Rule" (Physical Presence Test). One extra day in the US can cost you thousands.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🇦🇺 Australia Strategies

Superannuation: Complex treatment. Depending on the structure, "Super" might be a foreign trust or social security. We analyze this carefully.
Capital Gains: Selling your Aussie home? The US exemption ($250k) applies, but watch out for currency fluctuation gains.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🇪🇺 Germany, France, Spain

High Tax Jurisdictions: Generally, you pay more tax in Europe than the US.
Strategy: Foreign Tax Credits are usually superior to FEIE here. They allow you to claim the Child Tax Credit (up to $1,600 refund per kid) which FEIE prohibits.
Wealth Tax: We check if local wealth taxes are deductible.

🇺🇸 ↔️ 🌏 Thailand, Bali, Vietnam

Digital Nomads: Usually on tourist visas. This makes the "Bona Fide Residence" test hard to pass.
Strategy: We rely on the "Physical Presence Test." You must track your travel dates perfectly.
Self-Employment: Since many Asian countries don't have Totalization treaties with the US, you may still owe 15.3% Social Security tax to the US.

Fair, Transparent Pricing

We built our own software to automate data entry. We pass the savings to you.

Best for Employees

Standard Expat

$99

Per Year / Federal Return

Form 1040 Preparation
Form 2555 (Exclusion)
Form 1116 (Tax Credit)
FBAR (FinCEN 114) Included
CPA Review & E-File

Get Started

Nomad / Freelancer

$189

Per Year / Includes Biz

Everything in Standard
Schedule C (Business)
Self-Employment Tax Optimization
Expense Categorization
Treaty-Based Position (8833)

Start Filing

Amnesty Program

Streamlined

$499

Catch Up Package

3 Years of Tax Returns
6 Years of FBARs
Non-Willful Certification
Penalty Protection Strategy
Dedicated Case Manager

Get Amnesty

Frequently Asked Questions

Don't worry, you aren't alone. We use the IRS "Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures." This allows you to file the last 3 years of tax returns and 6 years of FBARs. By certifying that your failure to file was "non-willful" (an honest mistake), you can usually avoid all late filing penalties. Select our $499 package for this.

Yes. Many expats unknowingly remain "domiciled" in states like California, Virginia, or New York. We can file a Non-Resident or Part-Year state return for an additional fee ($49) to help you legally break ties with the state.

FBAR (FinCEN 114) is required if you have >$10,000 USD total in foreign accounts. FATCA (Form 8938) is for "Specified Foreign Assets" and has much higher thresholds (usually $200k+ for expats). We check both for you automatically.

Yes, but only if you use the Foreign Tax Credit method, NOT the FEIE method. If you pay tax in a high-tax country (like UK/Canada), we usually recommend the Credit method so you can get the $1,600+ refundable credit per child.

Once we receive all your documents, standard returns are filed within 48–72 hours. Streamlined (amnesty) packages take 1–2 weeks due to the volume of returns and FBARs. Expedited processing is available for an additional $50.

Yes, you still need to file. You can choose "Married Filing Separately" to keep your spouse's income out of the US tax system. However, if your spouse has no US income, "Married Filing Jointly" can sometimes be beneficial. We analyze both scenarios.

Security & Compliance

Bank-Level 256-bit Encryption

IRS Authorized E-File Provider

CPA Reviewed

Expat Taxes without the "Expat Price."