Texas residency affidavit (Form DL-5): what it is and how to use it
Learn how Texas Residency Affidavit Form DL-5 works, who can sign it, what documents are required, and when notarization is needed for a Texas driver's license or ID.
PFIC tax: What US expats need to know about passive foreign investment companies
PFIC tax rules can affect many US expats who invest in foreign mutual funds, ETFs, or other investment vehicles outside the United States. A Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) is a foreign corporation that primarily earns passive income or holds passive assets.
What is a CMRA address? Commercial mail receiving agencies explained
CMRA stands for Commercial Mail Receiving Agency, a private business that receives mail on your behalf at a real street address. It's not a PO box, but banks and DMVs treat it differently from a residential address. Here's exactly what the flag means and where it matters.
Do I have to file taxes in two states if I moved?
Moved states last year? You probably file a part-year return in each state, but only if both states have income tax. Move to Florida or Texas, and you file just one. Here's exactly how part-year returns work, how to split income, and the remote worker trap most people miss.
Physical address verification for US banks: a guide for expats & nomads
US banks require a physical US address under the PATRIOT Act, but not every US address qualifies. CMRA-flagged forwarding services are routinely rejected. Amazon packages don't count. Here's what actually satisfies residential address verification, and what to do when your bank asks.
Child Born Abroad: Citizenship, SSN & Tax Considerations
A baby born abroad to a US citizen parent may be a US citizen from birth, but citizenship doesn't register itself. Here's what expat parents need to do: apply for the CRBA and passport, get an SSN, and claim the tax credits most miss.
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion in 2026: IRS Form 2555
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion lets qualifying Americans abroad exclude up to $132,900 of foreign-earned income from U.S. tax in 2026 — but only if you pass the right residency test and avoid the five-year lock-out if you ever revoke it. Here's exactly how it works.
Country of domicile meaning: how it's different from residency
Domicile and residency sound interchangeable, but only one of them determines where you owe taxes, vote, and hold legal rights. Here's the exact distinction, and why it matters even more once you're living abroad.
Tax-Trigger Events for US Expats: Selling US Assets, Inheritance & Stock Options
Selling US property, vesting RSUs, inheriting assets, or renouncing citizenship: each creates US tax obligations that sit outside your normal annual return. RSU income isn't FEIE-eligible. The §121 exclusion erodes after years abroad. Here's what each event actually triggers.
Tax deductions for digital nomads and expats: the complete guide
The IRS gives digital nomads more tax deductions than most realize — from the home office deduction to foreign income exclusions worth over $130,000. Here's what you can actually write off in 2026, and what the $400 self-employment filing threshold means for you.
Guide to streamlined foreign offshore procedures (SFOP): for US expats
SFOP lets qualifying US expats catch up on unfiled taxes with $0 in penalties. No failure-to-file, no failure-to-pay, no FBAR penalties, just back tax plus interest, which retroactive FEIE often reduces to zero. Here's exactly who qualifies and how the process works.
Mexico temporal visa (temporary residency) for US citizens: 2026 guide
The Residente Temporal is how most US expats make their Mexico stay legal. Here's how temporary residency in Mexico actually works in 2026: financial requirements, the two-stage process, 2026 fee changes, and the 30-day mistake most people make.