Who We Help Tax Help for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

Tax Help for Self-Employed Expats

You Live Abroad. We’ll Handle the U.S. Taxes.

For U.S. citizens and green card holders anywhere outside the United States. Most owe the IRS little or nothing, but you still have to file, and that filing is what we take care of for you.
Woman on a shaded patio abroad adjusting her earbuds while working at an open laptop.

We Know Right Where You Stand.

You File, but You're Never Sure

You hit every deadline, but are never sure you are claiming the right exclusions or picking FEIE over the FTC.

You have filed on your own or with a regular U.S. accountant, and no longer trust it was done right.

You Hear Expats Owe Nothing, but You Do

Other Americans abroad tell you they owe nothing, yet your return keeps showing a balance.

You earn abroad and want to be sure you are not taxed twice, once where you live and again at home.

You Have More Than Wages to Report

Foreign accounts, investments, maybe a pension, and once they cross $10,000, the IRS wants them reported.

You freelance or run a business, so self-employment tax and quarterly payments fall to you.

Life Abroad Got More Complicated

A non-U.S. spouse, a business, a property, or a move added tax complexity you didn’t expect.

A few years slipped by unfiled, and you want to catch up the right way, without penalties.

Featured In

Expert Guides for Americans Abroad

Greenback maintains a comprehensive library of guides covering nearly every tax topic a U.S. citizen abroad faces. These are a few of the resources our clients lean on most, each linking to the full guide.

Why Americans Abroad Still File a U.S. Return

The U.S. taxes based on citizenship, not where you live, so Americans and green card holders file a return on worldwide income no matter where they are. In practice, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit leave most people owing little or nothing. Our guide to U.S. taxes for citizens abroad covers who must file, the deadlines, and the exceptions.

How the FEIE Excludes Up to $130,000

The FEIE lets you exclude up to $130,000 of foreign earned income for the 2025 tax year, rising to $132,900 for 2026, if you pass the Physical Presence or Bona Fide Residence Test. It applies to earned income like wages and self-employment, not passive income like dividends or rent. Our Foreign Earned Income Exclusion guide shows how to qualify and claim it on Form 2555.

When to Use the FEIE, the FTC, or Both

The FEIE and Foreign Tax Credit are money-saving expat tax strategies, but choosing between them can be tricky. The FEIE excludes income from U.S. tax (great for low-tax countries), while the Foreign Tax Credit subtracts taxes you paid abroad from your U.S. bill (ideal for high-tax countries). Many expats combine both. Our FEIE vs. Foreign Tax Credit guide shows which fits your situation.

Which Foreign Accounts the IRS Wants Reported

If your foreign financial accounts add up to more than $10,000 at any point in the year, you file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). FATCA Form 8938 is separate and starts at higher asset thresholds, from $200,000 for a single filer living abroad. Both are reports filed alongside your return, and neither adds tax on its own. Read our guides on FBAR and FATCA.

How Streamlined Filing Clears Late Returns

If your late filing was non-willful, the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedures let you get current, usually with no penalties. You file three years of tax returns, six years of FBARs, and Form 14653 certifying the failure was not willful. Most expats who use it owe little or nothing. Our guide to Streamlined Filing Procedures walks through who qualifies and each step.

How the U.S. Taxes Your Foreign Pension

Your foreign pension goes on your U.S. return, and how it is taxed depends on the country and any tax treaty. Distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income, and the account may need FBAR and Form 8938 reporting. Our guide to foreign pensions and U.S. taxes covers the common country setups.

Why Americans Abroad Still File a U.S. Return

The U.S. taxes based on citizenship, not where you live, so Americans and green card holders file a return on worldwide income no matter where they are. In practice, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit leave most people owing little or nothing. Our guide to U.S. taxes for citizens abroad covers who must file, the deadlines, and the exceptions.

How the FEIE Excludes Up to $130,000

The FEIE lets you exclude up to $130,000 of foreign earned income for the 2025 tax year, rising to $132,900 for 2026, if you pass the Physical Presence or Bona Fide Residence Test. It applies to earned income like wages and self-employment, not passive income like dividends or rent. Our Foreign Earned Income Exclusion guide shows how to qualify and claim it on Form 2555.

When to Use the FEIE, the FTC, or Both

The FEIE and Foreign Tax Credit are money-saving expat tax strategies, but choosing between them can be tricky. The FEIE excludes income from U.S. tax (great for low-tax countries), while the Foreign Tax Credit subtracts taxes you paid abroad from your U.S. bill (ideal for high-tax countries). Many expats combine both. Our FEIE vs. Foreign Tax Credit guide shows which fits your situation.

Which Foreign Accounts the IRS Wants Reported

If your foreign financial accounts add up to more than $10,000 at any point in the year, you file an FBAR (FinCEN Form 114). FATCA Form 8938 is separate and starts at higher asset thresholds, from $200,000 for a single filer living abroad. Both are reports filed alongside your return, and neither adds tax on its own. Read our guides on FBAR and FATCA.

How Streamlined Filing Clears Late Returns

If your late filing was non-willful, the IRS Streamlined Filing Procedures let you get current, usually with no penalties. You file three years of tax returns, six years of FBARs, and Form 14653 certifying the failure was not willful. Most expats who use it owe little or nothing. Our guide to Streamlined Filing Procedures walks through who qualifies and each step.

How the U.S. Taxes Your Foreign Pension

Your foreign pension goes on your U.S. return, and how it is taxed depends on the country and any tax treaty. Distributions are generally taxed as ordinary income, and the account may need FBAR and Form 8938 reporting. Our guide to foreign pensions and U.S. taxes covers the common country setups.

Two men with backpacks walking a sunlit street past a mint-green colonial building abroad.

What Expats Around the World Say About Working With Us

Rated 4.8/5 by Americans abroad who file with confidence.

Trustpilot

“I have been using Greenback for almost a decade. Their systems are easy to use and the handover to a real tax expert is seamless. I’ve had the same accountant since the start, and she knows our situation and gets our returns filed quickly and accurately.”

Craig A. Australia

“My accountant was excellent. She was patient, answered my questions, and was very responsive and thorough. I felt very taken care of from Day 1.”

Ashton D. Senegal

“This is my first time using Greenback. After using other companies for many years, I can say with confidence that Greenback is one of the best. Well worth it.”

Mohammad A. United Arab Emirates

“My accountant at Greenback made filing my taxes super easy … I am so relieved to finally be working with a true professional. I’ll definitely use Greenback again.”

Luke B. Spain
Trustpilot

Services for U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

Annual Federal Tax Return

USD $565

For Americans filing their yearly U.S. return from abroad. We prepare your full Form 1040, apply the FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit strategically, and coordinate with your foreign taxes so you owe as little as the law allows.

FBAR Foreign Account Reporting

USD $125+

For Americans abroad whose foreign accounts topped $10,000 combined at any point in the year. We prepare and e-file FinCEN Form 114, covering up to five accounts, so your account reporting is done right and on time.

Catch-Up Filing With Streamlined Procedures

USD $1,750

For expats who fell behind, often without realizing they had to keep filing. We use the IRS Streamlined Program to bring you current, usually with minimal or no penalties, in one flat-fee package.

State Tax Return Preparation

USD $185

For expats who still have a state filing obligation. We determine which state you owe, prepare part-year returns, and help you exit sticky states like California, New York, and Virginia.

Strategic Tax Consultation

USD $250+

For Americans abroad weighing a bigger decision: a foreign pension, a business, a move, or FEIE versus the Foreign Tax Credit. Sit down with a CPA or Enrolled Agent and get answers before you act.

Additional Tax Forms and Schedules

Variable flat rates

For returns that need extra forms, from a supplemental schedule to a one-off reporting form. We prepare each one at a flat, published rate so your complete return is filed correctly and on time.

U.S. Citizens Abroad Tax FAQs

Get answers to the questions Americans abroad ask most, from what you are likely to owe to who actually prepares your return.

A dedicated Greenback accountant, a U.S. CPA or IRS Enrolled Agent with at least five years of expat tax experience, prepares your return from start to finish. It is never outsourced and never automated.

They handle your Form 1040, Form 2555 for the FEIE, Form 1116 for the Foreign Tax Credit, and FBAR for foreign accounts, and review everything with you before you file.

We apply the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (up to $130,000 for the 2025 tax year) and the Foreign Tax Credit strategically, the two tools that leave most Americans abroad owing little or nothing.

Your accountant picks the combination that lowers your bill the most and coordinates it with the taxes you already pay where you live.

Yes. Greenback’s flat-fee Streamlined Filing package is $1,750 and covers three years of federal returns, six years of FBARs, and Form 14653, the non-willfulness certification you sign yourself.

Your accountant prepares the form and walks you through it before you sign. Most expats who come forward owe minimal or no penalties. One flat fee covers the entire catch-up, start to finish.

Yes. Self-employed Americans abroad pay 15.3% self-employment tax, and we prepare Schedule C and Schedule SE and claim every business deduction you are entitled to.

We also handle quarterly estimated taxes, totalization agreement questions, and foreign business entity reporting when it applies, so your whole return is done in one place.

Federal expat returns are a flat $565, FBAR is $125 for up to five accounts, and the Streamlined package is $1,750, all flat-fee. Form 8938, the FATCA asset report, is a separate filing at $120+ for up to five accounts. State returns and extra forms have their own flat fees, and you will know your full cost before we begin.

Yes. State returns are $185, and we prepare them for expats who still have a state filing obligation, including part-year returns and clean exits from sticky states like California, New York, and Virginia.

We focus on U.S. filings, and for clients in the UK we also prepare UK Self Assessment returns coordinated with the U.S. return.

Most Americans abroad need more than one filing, and you do not have to work out which ones. Your accountant reviews what you send in, tells you what applies, and prepares it.

For most people that is the federal return with the FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit at $565, an FBAR at $125+ for up to five accounts if your foreign accounts topped $10,000 combined, Form 8938 at $120+ for up to five accounts if you hold other foreign assets, and a state return at $185 if your old state still expects one.

Every piece has a published flat fee, so you see the total before we start.

File Right, Owe Less, and Get Back to Life Abroad.

Connect with an expat tax specialist who knows life abroad. We handle your filing, claim every credit you qualify for, and keep you compliant.