Behind on Your US Taxes? You’re in the Right Place.
Does Your Expat Life Resonate With These Realities?
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You missed one or more U.S. tax deadlines while adjusting to life in a new country and now you’re not sure where to begin.
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You didn’t realize you had to keep filing U.S. taxes after moving abroad, and discovered it only after years had passed.
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You’re worried about potential IRS penalties, notices, or consequences but unsure how serious your situation really is.
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You’re unsure whether you owe anything at all and want clarity before taking action.
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You’ve avoided dealing with taxes because it feels stressful, confusing, or embarrassing, and now the problem feels bigger.
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You’re missing documents from prior years, like foreign tax returns, bank statements, or employer info, and aren’t sure if you can still file.
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You’ve read about “Streamlined Filing” but aren’t sure whether it applies to you, or what it would realistically involve.
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You want to get compliant, but you need a nonjudgmental, step-by-step path that won’t make things worse.
Start your U.S. expat tax return today.
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You Need Certainty. We Provide the Blueprint. Before you decide what to do next, you deserve to understand your situation. These guides walk you through the most common questions late-filing expats have, so you can explore your options, understand the rules, and feel confident about your next step.
Understanding What “Late” Actually Means
Get clear on how the IRS defines late filing, what penalties may apply, and why these situations are often fixable, especially for expats who often have their late-filing penalties waived if they owe no tax.
Finding the Right Catch-Up Path
Learn how IRS amnesty programs like Streamlined Filing work, when they apply, and how they can help you get back into compliance without penalties. This process generally requires filing the last three years of tax returns and six years of FBAR
Sorting Through Foreign Income & Account Complexities
Whether your income comes from a foreign salary, freelance work, pensions, rental properties, or investments, understanding how foreign taxes factor into your U.S. return can provide immediate clarity. This guide explains how the IRS treats foreign income and how you may be protected from double taxation.
If You’re Self-Employed and Behind on Taxes
Understand how late filing affects self-employed expats, from Schedule C reporting to estimated taxes you may have missed. The Streamlined Procedures are often the best path for self-employed individuals to resolve past issues.
Catching Up on Foreign Bank Account Reporting
If you missed FBAR filings (FinCEN Form 114), we’ll explain what’s required, what the penalties are in theory, and how delinquent FBAR submission procedures can often resolve issues without fines, provided your income was properly reported.
If You’re Missing Documents or Feel Totally Lost
Rebuild the basics and get clear on your core expat tax obligations, even if your records aren’t perfect. If you’re worried about missing paperwork or incomplete information, review our guide on how US expats can avoid tax penalties for practical steps to stay compliant.Featured In
Streamlined Filing Success Stories From Expats Just Like You
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Solutions That Help You Get Back On Track—Without the Stress
Whether you’re one year behind or many, our services are designed to meet you where you are. Choose the path that fits your situation, or explore your options before deciding.
Catch-Up Filing (Streamlined Procedures)
If you’ve fallen behind, the IRS Streamlined Program may allow you to become compliant, often without penalties. We prepare all required returns, foreign income forms, and FBARs to help you get back on track quickly and safely.
$1,750
USD
Annual Expat Tax Filing
Once you’re current, we handle your yearly U.S. return so you never have to fall behind again. We apply the right strategies, e.g., Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), Foreign Tax Credits (FTC), and treaty provisions, to help minimize what you owe.
$565
USD
Small Business & Self-Employment Filing
Behind on reporting freelance income, small business earnings, or foreign entities? We prepare Schedule C, SE tax, and entity filings (like Form 5471) so you can catch up fully and confidently.
$750
USD
FBAR and FATCA Compliance
Missed FBARs can feel intimidating, but expats often have a path to correct them without penalties. We guide you through foreign account reporting and ensure everything is filed accurately going forward.
$125+
USD
Strategic Tax Consultation
If you’re unsure where to begin, or want to understand your options before committing, talk with an expat tax expert. We help clarify your situation, outline possible paths, and answer the questions keeping you up at night.
$250+
USD
State Tax Returns for Expats
Some expats need to file a State Tax Return even while living abroad. Whether you need to file a state return or not depends on the last state you resided in and your ongoing association with that state.
$185
USD
Your Questions, Answered: US Tax Guides & Resources
Visit the Knowledge Center
Late Filer FAQs: Catching Up on U.S. Expat Taxes
If I’m a Late Filer, How Much Could IRS Penalties Cost Me?
Through the Streamlined Filing Procedures, most expats who live abroad can catch up with zero penalties if the non-compliance was non-willful (you didn’t know you had to file, or you were confused about requirements).
The IRS offers this program specifically because it recognizes the complexity of international tax laws. If you qualify and file correctly, income tax late-filing penalties (like Failure to File and Failure to Pay) and the large FBAR penalties are waived.
How Far Back Does the IRS Require Me to File if I’m Behind?
The Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures require you to file the last 3 years of tax returns (Form 1040) and 6 years of FBAR reports (FinCEN Form 114). The requirement is based on the due date of the returns, not the current filing date. This brings you into full compliance with both the IRS and FinCEN.
Read more: How far back do I need to file?
If I’m Behind on Taxes and Don’t Have Records, Can I Still File?
No problem. This is a common situation for late filers. We guide you on how to provide necessary details and can help reconstruct your tax history using various sources, including bank statements, employment contracts, and foreign tax assessments. The key is to demonstrate a reasonable effort to report your income accurately.
How Much Might I Owe in Back Taxes if I Haven’t Filed for Years?
The vast majority of expats owe little to nothing in U.S. taxes after applying powerful tax benefits. These include the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) (up to $130,000 of foreign wages per year) and Foreign Tax Credits (FTC). If you lived in a high-tax country, the FTC often eliminates any U.S. tax liability entirely.
Read more: Will I owe back taxes?
If the IRS Has Contacted Me for Missing Returns, What Happens Next?
If the IRS has already initiated civil or criminal enforcement action against you (like an audit notice), you are generally not eligible for the Streamlined Filing Procedures. It is critical to act immediately if this happens. We will assess your specific situation and recommend the best alternative path forward, such as Delinquent FBAR Procedures or a response based on Reasonable Cause arguments.
What Does Non Willful Mean When Catching Up on Late U.S. Tax Returns?
Non-willful is a legal term meaning your failure to file was due to negligence, inadvertence, mistake, or a good faith misunderstanding of the requirements—not because you were intentionally trying to evade taxes. You must certify this on Form 14653 (Statement of Non-Willfulness) and provide a narrative explanation.
Read more: What does “Non-Willful” Mean?
Do Dual Citizens Qualify for Catch-Up Options Like Streamlined Filing?
Yes. Dual citizens can qualify for the Streamlined Filing Procedures as long as they meet the IRS criteria, including being non-willful in failing to file and having a valid Taxpayer Identification Number. Many dual citizens who lived their entire lives abroad and were unaware of their U.S. filing obligations often qualify.
The Streamlined program allows eligible taxpayers to catch up on their U.S. returns and foreign account reports while avoiding failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties.
After Catching Up, How Do I Stay Compliant With Future U.S. Tax Filing?
Once your Streamlined package is filed and processed, you are fully compliant. The IRS does not send a letter confirming acceptance, but after a period of time, you can have peace of mind that the issue is resolved. You can then move forward with simple, annual tax filing to stay on track.
Read more: What Happens After I Submit My Streamlined Filing?
It’s Not Too Late. Start Today.
