Your Company Sent You Abroad. Your U.S. Tax Obligations Don’t Have to Feel Overwhelming.
Does Your Corporate Assignment Raise Questions Like These?
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Relocated abroad by your employer with a compensation package that includes housing, cost of living adjustments, school tuition, or other allowances
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Receiving tax equalization support from your employer but unsure how it affects your personal U.S. filing obligations
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Holding RSUs, stock options, or other equity compensation that vested or were exercised while working abroad
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Confused about whether to use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credit, or both for optimal tax treatment
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Behind on U.S. filing because the complexity of corporate benefits, treaty provisions, and dual obligations felt overwhelming
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Uncertain whether your employer-provided housing qualifies for the Foreign Housing Exclusion and how to calculate it correctly
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Wondering if treaty benefits apply to your specific assignment country and how to claim them properly
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Concerned about coordination between your U.S. return, local country filing, and your employer’s tax equalization calculations
Start your U.S. expat tax return today.
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Before you decide what to do next, it helps to understand how corporate assignments, employer benefits, and U.S. tax rules interact. These guides focus on the questions corporate expats most often encounter.
What Is the Foreign Housing Exclusion and How Do Corporate Expats Use It?
If your employer provides housing or a housing allowance as part of your international assignment, you may qualify for the Foreign Housing Exclusion beyond the standard Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For 2025, the base housing amount is $20,800, with a general cap of $39,000 and higher limits for specific high-cost cities. This can significantly increase your total exclusion and reduce U.S. tax liability. Learn more about the Foreign Housing Exclusion
Tax Equalization: What It Means for Your Personal Filing
Many employers offer tax equalization to ensure you pay no more (and no less) in taxes than you would if you remained in the U.S. While your employer handles the equalization calculations, you still have personal U.S. filing obligations. Understanding how tax equalization works, what gets reimbursed, and how it affects your Form 1040 helps you stay compliant while your employer manages the gross-up. Learn more about tax equalization
Bona Fide Residence vs. Physical Presence Test: Which Test Works for Corporate Assignments?
Corporate expats on long-term assignments often benefit from the Bona Fide Residence Test, which allows unlimited U.S. trips without losing qualification. If your assignment is shorter or you travel frequently for business, the Physical Presence Test may be more appropriate. Choosing the right test affects your Foreign Earned Income Exclusion eligibility and timing. Learn more about the Bona Fide Residence Test
How Do Treaty Benefits Affect Corporate Expats?
The U.S. has tax treaties with over 60 countries designed to prevent double taxation and provide specific benefits for corporate employees. Treaties can offer reduced withholding rates, tie-breaker rules for residency, and provisions for retirement contributions. However, the “saving clause” in most treaties means U.S. citizens still need to file U.S. returns. Understanding which treaty articles apply to your assignment helps maximize tax efficiency. Learn more about U.S. tax treaties
Totalization Agreements: Avoiding Double Social Security Tax
If you work for a U.S. company on temporary foreign assignment, you may be required to contribute to both U.S. Social Security and the host country’s social security system. Totalization Agreements with 30+ countries eliminate this double burden by establishing which country receives your contributions. Understanding whether your assignment qualifies for totalization protection can save thousands annually. Learn more about Totalization Agreements
How Corporate Expats File U.S. Taxes: Forms, Deadlines, and Employer Coordination
Corporate expats typically file Form 1040, Form 2555 (FEIE), Form 1116 (Foreign Tax Credit), and may need Form 8833 for treaty positions. If you have employer-provided stock compensation, foreign housing, or tax equalization, additional reporting is required. You’ll coordinate with your employer’s benefits team for W-2 information, housing documentation, and any gross-up calculations. Learn more about U.S. expatriate payroll taxationFeatured In
Real Stories From Corporate Expats Just Like You
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Support That Understands Corporate International Assignments
Corporate expats face unique complexity: employer benefits, housing allowances, equity compensation, treaty provisions, and dual-country obligations. Our services are designed to help you stay compliant, maximize available exclusions and credits, and coordinate with your employer’s tax team—whether you’re filing annually, catching up, or planning ahead.
Annual U.S. Tax Return for Corporate Expats
We prepare your U.S. tax return with full consideration of employer-provided benefits, housing allowances, equity compensation, and treaty positions. We apply the optimal mix of the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (up to $130,000 for 2025), Foreign Housing Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credits, and treaty benefits to minimize U.S. tax liability. Our standard Federal Tax Return package includes Form 1040, Form 2555 (FEIE), Form 1116 (FTC), Form 8833 (treaty positions when applicable), all standard schedules, and up to 20 bank and brokerage transactions.
$565
USD
Foreign Housing Exclusion Calculation & Optimization
Corporate expats with employer-provided housing or housing allowances can exclude qualifying expenses beyond the standard FEIE limit. We calculate your Foreign Housing Exclusion correctly, ensure expenses exceed the base housing amount ($20,800 for 2025), and apply the appropriate cap for your location (general cap $39,000, with higher limits for cities like London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Geneva).
$565
USD
FBAR & FATCA Reporting for Corporate Expats
Foreign bank accounts, investment accounts, employer retirement contributions, and equity compensation accounts commonly trigger U.S. reporting requirements. We determine which accounts must be reported on FBAR (FinCEN Form 114), calculate the $10,000 aggregate threshold correctly, and prepare Form 8938 for FATCA compliance when your foreign assets exceed applicable thresholds. Our FBAR service starts at $125 for up to 5 accounts.
$125+
USD
Catch-Up Filing for Corporate Expats (Streamlined Filing Procedures)
If you’ve missed U.S. filings during your international assignment, the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedures provide a path to compliance without penalties. We prepare the required three years of returns, six years of FBARs, apply all available exclusions and credits retroactively, and help you certify that your failure to file was non-willful. Most corporate expats owe little or nothing after Foreign Housing Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credits are properly applied.
$1,750
USD
Strategic Tax Consultations for Corporate Assignments
If you’re considering an international assignment, recently relocated, or want to optimize your tax strategy, speak with an expat tax professional who understands corporate relocations, employer benefits, and treaty navigation. We help clarify which test to use (Bona Fide Residence or Physical Presence), explain how housing allowances and tax equalization work, discuss treaty benefits for your assignment country, and outline next steps for compliance. Consultations start at $250 for 30 minutes.
$250+
USD
Your Questions, Answered: US Tax Guides & Resources
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FAQs for Corporate Expats
How does Greenback help corporate expats with employer-provided benefits and housing allowances?
Greenback specializes in helping corporate expats navigate the complexity of international assignments. We prepare your U.S. return with full consideration of employer housing allowances, tax equalization packages, equity compensation, and treaty benefits. We apply the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (up to $130,000 for 2025), Foreign Housing Exclusion (up to $39,000 general cap, higher for specific cities), Foreign Tax Credits, and treaty positions to minimize U.S. tax liability. Most corporate expats in high-tax countries owe little or nothing after these protections are properly applied.
Can Greenback coordinate with my employer’s tax equalization program?
Yes. Greenback works with corporate expats who have tax equalization packages. While your employer manages the equalization calculations and reimbursements, we ensure your personal U.S. return (Form 1040) properly reports gross-up amounts, housing benefits, and employer reimbursements. We coordinate with your employer’s tax team to align your personal filing with equalization calculations, ensuring compliance and preventing surprises.
Learn more about tax equalization
I haven’t filed U.S. taxes since my international assignment began. Can Greenback help me catch up?
Yes. Greenback specializes in helping corporate expats catch up on missed U.S. tax filings through the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedures. This program is designed for expats who didn’t intentionally avoid filing. We evaluate your eligibility, prepare the required three years of returns and six years of FBARs, apply all available exclusions (FEIE, Foreign Housing Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credits), and help you become compliant. Most corporate expats face no penalties when the Streamlined Procedures are used correctly, and many owe $0 after exclusions are applied.
How does the Foreign Housing Exclusion work for corporate expats with employer-provided housing?
The Foreign Housing Exclusion allows you to exclude qualifying housing expenses beyond the standard $130,000 Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. For 2025, the base housing amount is $20,800, meaning expenses must exceed this threshold to qualify. The general cap is $39,000, with higher limits for expensive cities (London: $67,000, Tokyo: $77,100, Hong Kong: $114,300). Greenback calculates your exclusion correctly, ensures you’re claiming the maximum amount available, and coordinates with your employer’s housing documentation.
Can Greenback help me determine if treaty benefits apply to my corporate assignment?
Yes. The U.S. has tax treaties with over 60 countries, and many provide specific benefits for corporate employees. Treaty benefits can include reduced withholding rates, tie-breaker residency rules, retirement contribution exemptions, and specific provisions for equity compensation. Greenback identifies applicable treaty benefits for your assignment country, prepares Form 8833 to claim treaty positions, and ensures proper reporting. While most U.S. citizens still file U.S. returns due to the “saving clause,” treaties often provide additional tax savings when combined with FEIE and Foreign Tax Credits.
How do RSUs and stock options work for corporate expats working abroad?
Employer equity compensation (RSUs, stock options, ESPP) that vests or is exercised during your foreign assignment requires careful reporting. The income must be sourced between U.S. and foreign work periods, affecting whether you can apply FEIE or Foreign Tax Credits. Greenback handles the complexity of equity compensation reporting, coordinates with your employer’s grant documentation, applies proper sourcing rules, and ensures correct capital gains treatment when shares are sold.
Do I need to pay Social Security tax to both the U.S. and my assignment country?
It depends. The U.S. has Totalization Agreements with 30+ countries (including the UK, Germany, France, Canada, Japan, Australia) to prevent double Social Security taxation. If you work for a U.S. employer on temporary assignment (typically under 5 years), you usually pay only into U.S. Social Security. If your assignment is longer or you work for a foreign employer, you may pay into the host country system. Greenback helps you understand which system applies, ensures proper withholding, and coordinates with your employer.
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