Expat Tax Online

20/07/2026

What is an RRSP?

An RRSP is a Canadian retirement savings account designed to encourage long-term investing. Contributions made to an RRSP can generally reduce taxable income in Canada. Investments inside the account can grow without immediate Canadian taxation, and taxes are usually paid later when funds are withdrawn.

Think of an RRSP as Canada's version of a tax-advantaged retirement account.

Many Canadians use RRSPs to invest in:

• Mutual funds
• Exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
• Individual stocks
• Bonds
• Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GICs)

For Americans living in Canada, RRSPs are particularly important because they are specifically addressed by the Canada-US Tax Treaty.

The real question for Americans in Canada is how the IRS views your RRSP. The answer might surprise you.

Learn more here 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/can-us-expats-have-a-registered-retirement-savings-plans/

Yes. US citizens and Green Card holders can have RRSPs. Learn the US tax rules, reporting requirements, and key considerations.

20/07/2026

Nobody moves to Australia thinking about the IRS. But here you are.

The US is one of only two countries in the world that taxes based on citizenship not residency. Which means no matter how long you have lived in Australia, the IRS still wants to hear from you every single year.

Understanding how the two systems work together is the key to staying compliant without overpaying.

Download the free guide and get ahead of it 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/us-tax-guide-for-americans-in-australia/

16/07/2026

How the Dutch tax system interacts with US taxes

Living in the Netherlands means you are usually taxed as a Dutch resident in normal circumstances. The Netherlands also taxes residents on worldwide income, but it uses a system that looks very different from the US approach.

You are dealing with two separate tax systems:

• US taxes: administered by the Internal Revenue Service
• Dutch taxes: administered by the Belastingdienst

Paying Dutch tax does not replace US filing. Instead, the two systems run in parallel and are coordinated through foreign tax credits, exclusions, and treaty rules.

There is a lot more to know about how the two systems work together and what it means for your situation.

Download our free Netherlands filing guide to find out exactly where you stand 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/us-expat-taxes-netherlands/

16/07/2026

Why did I receive a Form 1099?

You typically receive a Form 1099 because a business, financial institution, government agency, or other payer reported income paid to you during the tax year. Unlike a Form W-2, which reports wages paid to employees, Forms 1099 generally report income earned outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship.

Common reasons for receiving a Form 1099 include:

• Working as an independent contractor or freelancer
• Earning interest from bank accounts
• Receiving dividends from investments
• Selling investments through a brokerage account
• Receiving retirement distributions
• Receiving unemployment benefits
• Receiving cancellation of debt income
• Selling real estate
• Receiving payments through online marketplaces

But there is a lot more to know about the different types of Form 1099, what each one means, and what you need to do with them as an American abroad.

Read the full guide here 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/irs-form-1099-types/

Received a Form 1099? Find out why businesses, banks, government agencies, and other payers send it and what you need to do next.

15/07/2026

Why US expats lose trust tax benefits in Australia

Is your foreign trust still worth it? In this video, we break down how a US taxpayer distributing trust income to themselves may trigger Australian tax.

Learn more about US expat taxes in Australia on our YouTube playlist 👇
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu5UUaGUmvyS7v_opmdaFbHbBe5avWrQ7

15/07/2026

This is exactly the kind of message that keeps our team going.

Clear instructions. A simple process. Responsive support every step of the way. And a price that made sense. That is what we set out to deliver for every single client who comes to us feeling overwhelmed about their US taxes.

Thank you Haley for trusting us with your Streamlined Filing and for taking the time to share your experience. Getting caught up on US taxes is a big deal and we are so glad we could make it feel manageable.

If you are in a similar situation and are not sure where to start, we would love to help.

Get in touch with us today 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/contact/

14/07/2026

Can I buy real estate with a self-directed IRA?

Yes. A self-directed IRA can generally invest in real estate if the property is held for investment purposes and complies with IRS rules.

Real estate is one of the most common investments held in a self-directed IRA. Depending on your investment goals, the IRA may purchase residential, commercial, or undeveloped property.

However, the property belongs to the IRA, not to you personally. This means you generally cannot:

• Live in the property.
• Use it as a vacation home.
• Rent it to yourself or certain family members.
• Pay property expenses with personal funds.
• Use the property as security for a personal loan.

Likewise, rental income, sale proceeds, and property expenses generally need to flow through the IRA rather than through you personally.

There is a lot more to know about the rules, prohibited transactions, and how this works for US expats.

Read the full guide here
https://www.expattaxonline.com/self-directed-ira/

A self-directed IRA is an individual retirement account that allows you to take charge and manage your investment pool within the account.

14/07/2026

Double taxation means paying tax twice on the same income. Most expats avoid that by using the right tools.

Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)

For tax year 2025, up to US$130,000 of foreign-earned income may be excluded if you meet:

• The physical presence test, or
• The bona fide residence test

In high-tax countries like Germany, FEIE can sometimes reduce or eliminate your ability to use foreign tax credits on the same income, even when those credits would have wiped out US tax.

Foreign Tax Credit (FTC)

You report the income, then claim a credit for German income tax paid. Because German tax rates are relatively high, this often wipes out US tax on salary income.

Some expats use FEIE for part of their income and credits for the rest. This requires careful structuring.

The key is knowing which relief tools apply to your situation and using them correctly.

Download our free Germany filing guide and find out exactly where you stand 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/american-expat-taxes-in-germany/

09/07/2026

Eligible taxpayers may receive up to US$1,700 per qualifying child as a refundable tax credit, even if they owe no federal income tax, provided they meet IRS eligibility requirements.

Most American parents living abroad assume they don't qualify for the Child Tax Credit. In some cases, they do.

The Additional Child Tax Credit is refundable, which means eligible taxpayers may receive a cash refund even if their US federal income tax bill is zero.

And here's what many expat parents never find out. If you already filed using the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, it may not be too late.

Depending on your circumstances, you may still be able to claim the credit by filing an amended return.

Check if you qualify for this refund in seconds with our calculator 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/ctc-check/

09/07/2026

What is IRS Form 56?

IRS Form 56, Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship, notifies the IRS that a fiduciary relationship has been created or terminated.

A fiduciary is a person who has legal authority to act on behalf of another person or entity. In the eyes of the IRS, a fiduciary generally assumes the rights, responsibilities, and obligations of the taxpayer for the matters covered by the appointment.

Common fiduciaries include:

• Executors of estates
• Personal representatives
• Trustees
• Guardians
• Conservators
• Receivers

The IRS uses Form 56 to recognize who is acting in a fiduciary capacity for certain tax matters, although it is not used simply to request copies of IRS notices.

There is a lot more to know about when to file, how to complete it, and what happens if it is not filed correctly.

Read the full guide here 👇
https://www.expattaxonline.com/irs-form-56/

If you have been named the executor of a parent's estate, appointed as a trustee, or given legal authority, you may need to file IRS Form 56.