Entries by Christian Reeves

How to Get an Offshore Merchant Account

You read a lot of stories about how difficult it is for Americans to get an offshore bank account. Well, opening a low cost, efficient, offshore merchant account 10 times more difficult. Many of us are used to the extraordinarily low rates of the U.S., and have no idea what to expect when we venture […]

Can the Government Seize my IRA?

One of the most common questions I get is, “can the government seize my IRA?” With all of the uncertainty in the USA, and the growing hostility towards our government and its practices, many Americans are concerned about their retirement accounts. For most, their retirement account is their only liquid asset, the majority of their […]

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion Basics

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is the Expat’s first, and sometimes only, line of defense against the IRS. It allows you to eliminate up to $97,600 in salary from your US taxable income in 2013, and can provide additional benefits to those living, working, and operating a business abroad. Just about every tax article on […]

2012 IRS Offshore Compliance Program

Great News for Some ExPats and Dual-Nationals As an ExPat American, you know that you are required to file a U.S. tax return each year and report your foreign bank accounts if you have more than $10,000 offshore. Unless you have been living under a rock in Bangladesh, you also know that the IRS has […]

U.S. Tax for Business Owners & Self Employed

This section is an introduction to the benefits of an offshore corporation for U.S. citizens living and working abroad. It is not meant for those living abroad on their pension (retirees) or those with passive investment income. Most Expats know that the U.S. taxes its citizens on their worldwide income and that all U.S. citizens […]

Taxation of Foreign Real Estate Investments

EDITORS NOTE: This article was published in 2010 and has some valuable information. For a more recent and detailed article on this same site, click here.   When it comes to investing in property overseas, there is often little difference than if you were investing in U.S. property. Three situations bear investigation: 1. The first […]

Expatriation – The Final Solution

Each month I get one or two inquiries from U.S. citizens who have had enough and want to give up their U.S. citizenship. While it is rare for someone to take such drastic steps, especially after they learn how to manage their U.S. tax obligations while living abroad, it is an important subject. Here are […]