Discover all the tax services we offer
Get an instance service estimate
Comprehensive guides on everything you need to know from planning your expat journey to filing your expat taxes with ease.
Our Country Guides will help you understand the ins and out of your specific U.S. expat tax requirements.
Access up-to-date articles, breaking news, deadline information and in-depth case studies on US expat taxes.
Get the answers to all your questions and browse Greenback’s most frequently asked customer questions.
Sign up for one of our live webinars hosted by our expert accountant team or watch one on-demand today.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get money-saving tips, expat tax news, and exclusive promos.
Learn how our straightforward pricing, easy process, and an expert team makes us uniquely qualified to simplify the hassle of expat tax filing.
We’ve assembled a team only the most experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly CPAs and IRS Enrolled Agents our clients can trust.
Read our client testimonials to get a feel for the Greenback experience straight from the expats we’ve worked with.
We’re featured in many reliable news sources thanks to our reputation as experts on US taxes abroad.
Whatever your expat tax needs, wheverver in the world, we’d love to hear from you.
Blog
A status of forces agreement, often called a SOFA, is an agreement between a nation that is hosting stationed military forces in their country, and the nation of those forces. Sometimes these agreements are part of a larger swath of military agreements that comprise a more wide-ranging security arrangement. These agreements usually apply to American citizens working as military contractors outside of the US in countries including but not limited to Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Korea. Why are the status of forces agreements important for expats? Because they can determine where military contractors do—and don’t—have to pay taxes.
As you may know, US Citizens and Green Card holders are required to file US income tax returns to report their worldwide income—regardless of where they live and work. But what about foreign taxes? Often, Status of Forces Agreements (SOFA) include provisions that exempt military contractors from paying taxes to their host country. Typically, when this is the case, the agreement will state that the tax home of these expatriates is the United States, rather than the foreign country.
Yes and no. Typically military contractors in locations with SOFA agreements will not pay foreign taxes—but they are still responsible for US taxes. In addition, if a SOFA agreement prevents a military contractor from establishing a foreign tax home, they will not qualify for the Foreign Income Tax Exclusion.
US government contractors working overseas may receive certain allowances and have certain expense deductions that are not available to taxpayers living in the US. An employee of the US foreign service who is required to establish and maintain favorable relations in foreign countries may receive a nontaxable allowance for representation expenses. If expenses are more than the allowance received, excess expenses can no longer be deducted as an itemized deduction.
Expats can exclude foreign earned income with provisions such as the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE). But, keep in mind that the FEIE and foreign housing deduction cannot be applied to the income you receive as an employee of the US government. This is because almost all payments from the US government to civilian employees working abroad are taxable—including pay differentials. Specific foreign allowances like the cost of living or travel allowance are tax-free.
If you’re an expat who was paid by a US agency to perform services to a foreign country, and you are also a US government employee, your pay will not qualify for the FEIE or the foreign housing deduction. Unfortunately, even in cases where a foreign government reimburses the US agency for your pay, this remains true.
If you work for an Armed Forces post exchange, embassy commissary, or officer and enlisted personnel club, that also means your pay comes from the US government, and the earnings you receive will not apply toward the FEIE or foreign housing deduction.
Further, you won’t be able to deduct unreimbursed expenses you incurred as an employee as part of the miscellaneous itemized deductions. But there are exceptions to this. If you are an Armed Forces reservist, a qualified performing artist, an employee with impairment-related work expenses, or a fee-basis state or local government official, you can deduct the unreimbursed expenses.
US citizens or residents employed by the US government abroad who also obtain income from private employers or self-employment might be able to qualify for the exclusions with their other income. To qualify, the citizen must meet either the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test. A spouse who is a US citizen or resident alien may also qualify if they earn income in a foreign country that is paid by a private employer or is from self-employment.
Finally, remember that income tax returns for military contractors have to be filed by the normal expat tax filing deadlines. So, the deadline is April 15th with an automatic two-month extension to June 15th.
Greenback has specialists who can help. Get started with Greenback today.
When you live in the US, tax day is simple: April 15th! When you move abroad, it’s not so straightforward! Learn about all the expat deadlines and extensions you need to know to file.