No employer, no payroll, no withholding. You are the whole finance department now.
You are not sure which rules apply to you, and no one is there to check your work.
You keep hearing expats owe almost nothing, but that hasn’t been the case for you.
No one told you self-employment tax applies, and its 15.3% eats into your hard-earned income.
Four IRS deadlines a year, and you never quite know the amount to send or the date it is due.
One busy month, one quiet month, income from two countries, and the math never quite adds up.
Money lands in Wise, PayPal, or Revolut in more than one currency, and the IRS wants it in dollars.
Those same accounts can bring FBAR and FATCA into play, filings many expats don’t realize apply.
Greenback maintains a comprehensive library of guides covering nearly every tax topic that a self-employed American abroad encounters. Here are some of the resources our clients reach for most.
Self-employment tax catches many expats off guard: the 15.3% applies to net earnings over $400, even when the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion erases your income tax, and only a totalization agreement changes that. Our guides on self-employment tax for expats and how to file it step by step explain who owes and how to reduce it.
With no employer withholding, the IRS expects estimated payments in April, June, September, and January, and income that rises, falls, or arrives from several countries makes them hard to size. Our guide to estimated payments for expats walks through how to calculate each one and avoid overpaying.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit lower your U.S. bill in very different ways, and the better pick depends on your income and where you live. Choosing well and combining them correctly is where the real savings come from. Read our breakdown of the FEIE vs. the FTC for self-employed income.
Every legitimate deduction, from a home office to equipment, software, and business travel, lowers both your income tax and the earnings your 15.3% self-employment tax is based on. Our guide to business deductions for expats breaks down which expenses qualify and how to document them correctly.
Business accounts and platforms like Wise, PayPal, and Revolut can push you past the $10,000 FBAR threshold, and FATCA Form 8938 may apply on top. These are reporting requirements filed alongside your taxes, and penalties for missing them are steep. Read our guides on FBAR and FATCA reporting.
Whether you keep a U.S. LLC, run as a sole proprietor, or form a foreign company changes which tax forms you file, how you are taxed, and whether additional reporting like Form 5471 applies. Our guides on starting a business overseas and foreign business reporting walk through the trade-offs before you commit.
Self-employment tax catches many expats off guard: the 15.3% applies to net earnings over $400, even when the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion erases your income tax, and only a totalization agreement changes that. Our guides on self-employment tax for expats and how to file it step by step explain who owes and how to reduce it.
With no employer withholding, the IRS expects estimated payments in April, June, September, and January, and income that rises, falls, or arrives from several countries makes them hard to size. Our guide to estimated payments for expats walks through how to calculate each one and avoid overpaying.
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit lower your U.S. bill in very different ways, and the better pick depends on your income and where you live. Choosing well and combining them correctly is where the real savings come from. Read our breakdown of the FEIE vs. the FTC for self-employed income.
Every legitimate deduction, from a home office to equipment, software, and business travel, lowers both your income tax and the earnings your 15.3% self-employment tax is based on. Our guide to business deductions for expats breaks down which expenses qualify and how to document them correctly.
Business accounts and platforms like Wise, PayPal, and Revolut can push you past the $10,000 FBAR threshold, and FATCA Form 8938 may apply on top. These are reporting requirements filed alongside your taxes, and penalties for missing them are steep. Read our guides on FBAR and FATCA reporting.
Whether you keep a U.S. LLC, run as a sole proprietor, or form a foreign company changes which tax forms you file, how you are taxed, and whether additional reporting like Form 5471 applies. Our guides on starting a business overseas and foreign business reporting walk through the trade-offs before you commit.
Rated 4.8/5 by freelancers and consultants who file from abroad.
“My situation was not easy as a self-employed worker with several sources of international income, but Greenback’s accountants were always knowledgeable and easy to work with.”
“I also have reporting responsibilities as the owner of a UK-registered limited company. The highly detail-oriented accountant with whom I was paired went above and beyond, thereby earning my trust and my repeated business. I can’t recommend Greenback enough!”
“Great experience and very responsive service. As a self-employed sole proprietor expat in France, they made sure I took full advantage of my sole proprietor status.”
“My accountant is extremely professional, fair and responsive. I have worked with Greenback for over 5 years on tax returns, for both personal and company purposes, as well as advise for small businesses. Very satisfied and will continue to work together with them.”
For freelancers, consultants, and solo owners abroad. We prepare your full U.S. return, apply the FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit strategically, and handle Schedule C, deductions, and self-employment tax accurately.
For owners of a U.S. LLC, a sole proprietorship abroad, or a foreign entity. We file the correct forms and schedules, including complex reporting such as Form 5471, so your business stays compliant.
For self-employed expats holding business funds in Wise, PayPal, Revolut, or a local bank. If those accounts topped $10,000 combined at any point in the year, we prepare and e-file FinCEN Form 114 for you.
For self-employed expats who have fallen behind, often from confusion over SE tax abroad. We use the IRS Streamlined Program to catch you up safely, usually with minimal or no penalties.
For self-employed expats weighing a big decision: keep the LLC or not, how local taxes apply, FEIE or FTC, starting a new business, and handling income in several currencies. Get personalized answers before you act.
Get answers to the questions self-employed Americans abroad ask most, so you know exactly what applies to you and what your next step is.
Yes. We prepare your complete Form 1040 with Schedule C for business income and Schedule SE for the 15.3% self-employment tax, then apply the FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit to lower what you owe. We also handle business deductions, quarterly estimates, and FBAR for foreign accounts, so your whole return is done right in one place.
Most self-employed expats owe little or no U.S. income tax, thanks to the FEIE (up to $130,000 for the 2025 tax year) and the Foreign Tax Credit. The 15.3% self-employment tax still applies, though, unless a totalization agreement covers you. We find the combination that legally lowers your bill the most.
Yes. We use the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedures to bring you current: three years of returns and six years of FBARs, plus Form 14653, the non-willfulness certification you sign yourself. Your accountant prepares it and explains it before you sign.
Most self-employed expats who come forward owe minimal or no penalties, and our Streamlined package is a flat $1,750.
Yes. Multiple currencies, a U.S. LLC or foreign entity, mixed W-2 and 1099 income, and extra forms like 5471 are routine for us. Your accountant, often an expat too, works out exactly which forms apply and reports everything correctly, so complexity never becomes yours to solve alone.
Pricing is flat-fee and clear upfront. A federal return with Schedule C is a flat $565, small business or entity filing at $750, FBAR at $125 for up to five accounts, the Streamlined package at $1,750, and consultations at $250. Form 8938, the FATCA asset report, is a separate filing at $120+ for up to five accounts. You will know your full cost before we begin.
Getting started takes minutes: create your account, share your documents securely, and we pair you with a dedicated accountant who prepares your return, applies every expat tax benefit, and reviews it with you before filing. No matter how late or complex your taxes, we can help.
Most self-employed expats need more than one filing, and you do not have to work out which. Your accountant reviews your income and accounts and tells you what applies.
Usually that is the federal return with Schedule C and self-employment tax at $565, small business or entity filing at $750 if you run a corporation or partnership, an FBAR at $125+ for up to five accounts if your business and personal accounts topped $10,000 combined, and quarterly estimated tax calculations at $250+.
Each piece carries a published flat fee, so you know the total before we begin.
Connect with an expat specialist who knows self-employment abroad. We handle your filing, optimize deductions, and keep you compliant.
