You are a U.S. citizen or resident alien living abroad
Begin with worldwide income, the annual U.S. return, relief from double taxation, foreign-account reporting, and any continuing state ties.
Review U.S. Expat Filing RequirementsINTERNATIONAL TAX GUIDES
International tax guides for U.S. expats, foreign nationals, and foreign accounts
Cross-border tax questions begin with the person and the connection to the United States. A U.S. citizen abroad, a green-card holder, a foreign national spending time in the United States, and a person with foreign accounts can face different income-tax and information-reporting rules.
Use these guides to identify the U.S. filing question, organize the facts, and recognize when international forms require separate scope. Tavella CPA Group provides U.S. tax services; these guides do not provide foreign-country tax, immigration, or legal advice.
FIND YOUR STARTING POINT
Start with the connection that creates the U.S. filing question
Citizenship, tax residency, foreign accounts, and taxpayer identification are different issues. Choose the path that best matches the immediate question.
You are a foreign national with days or income in the United States
Start with the green-card and substantial-presence rules before deciding whether resident, nonresident, or dual-status tax filing may apply.
Review the Substantial Presence TestYou have financial accounts or assets outside the United States
Compare the FBAR and Form 8938 before assuming one filing satisfies the other or that the same assets and thresholds apply.
Compare Form 8938 and the FBARYou need a taxpayer identification number
Review whether an ITIN is required for a federal tax purpose, how Form W-7 connects to a tax return, and which document-submission methods the IRS accepts.
Review the ITIN and Form W-7 Guide
PRIORITIZED READING PATH
Choose the guide that matches the international tax question
Start with the expat or substantial-presence guide for filing status, the FBAR and Form 8938 guides for foreign accounts and assets, or the ITIN guide for a taxpayer-identification question.
INTERNATIONAL TAX
U.S. Expat Tax Filing Requirements for Americans Abroad
Learn how U.S. income-tax filing, foreign income, foreign tax credits, the foreign earned income exclusion, state returns, and foreign-account reporting can apply to Americans abroad.
8 min readRead guideINTERNATIONAL TAX
FBAR Filing Requirements: Who Must File FinCEN Form 114?
Learn who may need to file an FBAR, how the $10,000 aggregate threshold works, when FinCEN Form 114 is due, and why FBAR is separate from Form 8938.
7 min readRead guideINTERNATIONAL TAX
Form 8938 vs. FBAR: What Is the Difference?
Compare Form 8938 and the FBAR, including who files, covered foreign assets, reporting thresholds, where each form is filed, and why one does not replace the other.
8 min readRead guideINTERNATIONAL TAX
Foreign Tax Credit vs. Foreign Earned Income Exclusion
Compare the foreign tax credit and foreign earned income exclusion, including income covered, Forms 1116 and 2555, qualification tests, and coordination limits.
8 min readRead guideINTERNATIONAL TAX
Substantial Presence Test: Are You a U.S. Tax Resident?
Learn the 31-day and weighted 183-day substantial presence test, which days may be excluded, and how resident, nonresident, and dual-status tax filing can differ.
8 min readRead guideINTERNATIONAL TAX
ITIN and Form W-7: Application and Tax-Filing Guide
Learn who may need an ITIN, how Form W-7 connects to a federal tax purpose, which identification documents are required, and where an application can be submitted.
7 min readRead guide
COMMON QUESTIONS
What to know before using these guides
These answers provide general information. The applicable filing and payment requirements depend on current law and the complete facts.
Are U.S. tax residency and immigration status the same?
No. Federal tax residency and immigration status follow different rules. These guides address U.S. tax questions only and do not provide immigration or legal advice.
Does Tavella CPA Group prepare foreign-country tax returns?
No foreign-country tax-return service is represented by these guides. Tavella CPA Group scopes U.S. federal and state tax work; foreign-country filings should be handled by a qualified adviser in that jurisdiction.
Are all international information returns included with a tax return?
No. FBAR, Form 8938, and forms involving foreign entities, trusts, gifts, pensions, or investments can require separate analysis and scope. Each accepted form and filing year is confirmed in writing before work begins.
Can I send account statements or identity documents through the contact form?
No. Use the public form only for a brief, non-sensitive description. Do not include account numbers, passport images, Social Security numbers, tax forms, or other confidential records.
HOW TO USE THESE GUIDES
Use the articles to organize the facts—not to guess at the result
Each guide provides general information, a direct answer, publication and update dates, an identified author, and links to primary sources where appropriate.
Tax outcomes depend on the full facts and current law. Do not send Social Security numbers, tax forms, account numbers, or other sensitive records through the public contact form.
U.S. INTERNATIONAL TAX PREPARATION
Need the U.S. filing requirements reviewed as one connected picture?
Tavella CPA Group can scope accepted U.S. individual returns, expat filings, foreign-national returns, FBAR and Form 8938 reporting, and related planning. Foreign-country returns, immigration advice, and complex international information returns are separate and included only when expressly accepted in writing.