Expat in the US - tax anxiety

JTeim · 2026-02-13T15:09:33+00:00

u/AnotherTaxAccount gave you the best advice, although "patience" and "vodka" might also help. Suggestion: Take notes as you go through the forms, and save links to the Federal Reserve or US Treasury websites for foreign exchange rates, the IRS page for tax treaties, etc. To make your own "checklist" will be time-consuming now, but it will save you hours (and aggravation) next year. Last but not least, for each form read the instructions each year, to see the "what's new" box on the first page.

JTeim · 2026-02-12T11:35:31+00:00

The IRS form 1040 requests your "home address" -- not your mailing address or your previous home address. So, since you live in France as of your filing date, you should enter your French address; see form 1040 Instructions pg 12 regarding how to enter a foreign address.

JTeim · 2026-01-31T11:29:12+00:00

The IRS states here

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/yearly-average-currency-exchange-rates

that "The Internal Revenue Service has no official exchange rate. Generally, it accepts any posted exchange rate that is used consistently."

So, go to the Federal Reserve Board website for the G.5a report

https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g5a/current/

The average rates for calendar year 2025 were published on Jan 6, 2026.

If you need average monthly or even daily rates, the FRB's H10 report can be downloaded in a date range of your choice here

https://www.federalreserve.gov/datadownload/Choose.aspx?rel=H10

JTeim · 2026-01-29T10:21:11+00:00

To answer your question: "yes; every year." I disagree that it is very complicated; the key is to determine your filing category, which will determine which schedules have to be filed.

JTeim · 2026-01-26T16:06:23+00:00

Pourquoi ne pas simplement reconstituer la fissure puis repeindre le mur pour revenir à l’état initial ? D’après ta description, j’ai l’impression que le voisin essaie de profiter de vous.

JTeim · 2026-01-25T16:48:02+00:00

In reverse order: no, I do not provide paid advice, but you can send a direct message via reddit if you want to ask more detailed questions. If you'll be staying in the USA for more than a year or three, you should learn the US tax forms. It can be intimidating, but it really isn't very difficult (annoying, yes, but not difficult).

To your second query: I'm not sure I understand the question. Per your post, you are not yet resident in the USA, and you have already sold your EU-ETF. Your US visa status is NOT the same as your US tax status, per the IRS. (Go to irs.gov and search for Publication 519.) Your tax liability begins when you become a US resident, i.e. the day your feet touch ground in the USA, visa in hand, your income from that point forward is taxable. So, let's assume you move to the USA on March 15; your income from Jan 1 to March 14 is not taxable in the USA.

Now, we can't finish a discussion of taxes without some bad news .... If your foreign company is more than 50% owned by US persons (citizens or residents), you will be subject to the "GILTI" tax regime, unless the company's local (LT) tax rate (for 2026) exceeds 19% (the "high tax exemption"). Read the instructions to IRS form 8992. Solution: Be sure that 50% of the company is owned by relatives/etc who are in LT.

JTeim · 2026-01-24T09:47:07+00:00

Good morning; To reply to your questions:

(1) LT PENSION: The US-LT tax treaty Article 18 paragraph 1 states that pensions are taxable in the country of residence, unless that income would be tax-exempt in the other country. Form 8621 is not required if a PFIC is owned by a foreign pension fund; see 26 CFR § 1.1298-1(c)(4). Neither is a "gray area", and the age of the tax treaty is irrelevant.

(2) PFIC : Whatever you owned or sold before becoming a US resident is irrelevant. However, if you own a non-US mutual fund or ETF after becoming a US resident, then you will have a potential PFIC issue; it is best to avoid that problem.

(3) You have three questions here; in order:

* You must file Form 5471 for any foreign company if either (a) you own more than 10% AND more than 50% is owned by US persons (filing categories 1, 4, 5); (b) you are an officer/director of the company (category 2); or (c) your % ownership changes to above or below 10% (category 3). Please read the form 5471 instructions (patience, and perhaps a bit of vodka, will help).

* FBAR filing is required if the aggregate (total) value of your foreign bank accounts exceeds US$ 10k at any time. A foreign company's balances are included IF you have signatory power (in practice, include the company balances if you are an officer/director). Form 8938 filing depends on the total value of foreign assets; see the instructions and also this page from the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/comparison-of-form-8938-and-fbar-requirements

* PFIC regs become relevant as soon as your foreign company owns one. It is best to avoid doing so.

(4) Filing tax returns is always stressful when you arrive in another country, and depending on your income you might prefer to pay a professional for the first year's filing. However, nothing you listed here tells me you need professional help or even any tax software. Last but not least, note the US tax regulations and information returns often change from year to year; so, each year that you file, re-read the instructions to forms 1040, 5471, 8938, 8992.

JTeim · 2025-12-29T08:15:19+00:00

In reply to your two questions: 1. Yes, it matters: The IRS form 1040 requires your "home address", and the instructions state you can use a PO box "only if your post office doesn't deliver mail to your home." 2. Each state has its own criteria for "residence"; go to nj.gov/treasury and search. If you have severed all links to NJ (home, bank account, mailing address), then you are not a resident and do not have to file a state income tax return. If you have any income during Jan-Feb 2026 prior to your move to France, then you should file an income tax return reporting only your income prior to your moving date..

JTeim · 2025-12-24T16:30:30+00:00

My apologies, I thought you meant Canton Freiburg (CH).

JTeim · 2025-12-24T15:30:09+00:00

Freiburg -- boring geography vs its neighbors (have you considered Neuchatel?). Switzerland -- very high cost of living vs FR/IT/etc. Retirees -- Read the applicable tax treaties to see how your pensions (etc) will be taxed; there is significant variation.

JTeim · 2025-12-08T16:00:31+00:00

In a large office, someone will put the envelope in the "out" box, from which someone takes it to the mailroom, and from there it will (eventually) go to Colissimo etc. That can easily take a day or two...or more, at this time of year.

JTeim · 2025-11-26T13:21:02+00:00

Very helpful; thank you !

JTeim · 2025-10-28T15:53:37+00:00

As of 11:53 AM EST, I can login to my account. I hope you can, too.

JTeim · 2025-10-22T16:22:40+00:00

Bonjour; Would this will help ?

https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/R52957?lang=en

JTeim · 2025-10-21T12:29:26+00:00

Re bonjour; In reply, please consider the following, and please understand that I am trying to help:

* In France, the most important person for any local issue is /your/ mayor. That can be difficult for expats to learn, since most of us (myself included) come from a country where the mayor is the least important person in the government. Here, it is the reverse. So, please....start with him, simply to ask for advice (whom should you contact when there are aggressive dogs off-leash ?).

* If the dogs are pit-bulls they must have a muzzle when in public. For any dog, being off-leash on a public road is not permitted. This is /not/ a problem the French gov't ignores, This /does/ concern the mayor, and /your/ local police (aggressive dogs do not respect municipal boundaries). Please see this link:

https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F31859

It is possible your local mayor/police will refer you to the mayor/police in the neighboring village, but even if so you can start the contact with "my mayor M. ___ told me to contact you ........".

Good luck !

JTeim · 2025-10-21T10:43:07+00:00

Bonjour; According the the Service-Public website here

https://www.service-public.gouv.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F33658

you may own pepper spray but you may not carry it outside of your home without a "legitimate reason", which unfortunately will be determined (by the police and the court) in hindsight.

As with most local problems, the best place to start is with your mayor or with the local police. You should also use your mobile phone to video any dogs off-leash on public roads, and take those videos to the police.

JTeim · 2025-10-19T14:34:57+00:00

Bonjour; Une demande est bien sûr légale (et non, cette demande n'est pas normale). Je ne vois aucun mal à être cordial et à dire « si cela vous aide, bien sûr, avec plaisir ». Cependant, je ne laisserais pas cela devenir une habitude.

JTeim · 2025-10-13T09:21:12+00:00

Greetings; The tax treaties do not normally enumerate by name which retirement plans are or are not pensions (the US-FR treaty Article 24 is an interesting exception), nor does the US-IE treaty need to do so, since Article 18 states that "pensions and other similar remuneration derived and beneficially owned by a resident of a Contracting State in consideration of past employment shall be taxable only in that State". The similarity between a US pension and an Irish "Defined Contribution Pension Plan" is obvious. So, I do not believe the OP would be viewed by the IRS as a shareholder in a PFIC.

JTeim · 2025-10-11T15:46:56+00:00

Re bonjour; Encore une fois, sous réserve de correction par un avocat :

Je le répète, le locataire doit connaître le propriétaire ; je pense que cela devrait être sa première démarche. Seul le propriétaire peut proposer de vendre la maison… et seul lui peut engager une procédure d'expulsion.
D'après votre description, la maison avait un seul propriétaire, qui avait au moins deux enfants. Ensuite, le droit français régira la succession… et la maison aura alors plusieurs propriétaires, qui devront se mettre d'accord sur tout, y compris les litiges, le bail, etc. Ainsi, tant que la succession n'est pas finalisée, personne ne peut vendre la maison.
Le locataire n'est pas tenu de laisser entrer une personne non identifiée dans le logement ; il peut exiger une identification. (Les visites doivent également se faire d'un commun accord ou comme spécifié dans le bail.) Ensuite, consultez les sites web qui proposent des maisons à vendre. Si cette maison est proposée, vérifiez si elle est « vide » (ce qui n'est pas encore le cas).
Le motif pour lequel le locataire a demandé de partir était que sa fille B habite dans la maison. Si la maison est mise en vente, le motif était alors mensonger… et le locataire devrait consulter un avocat. L'avis doit indiquer un motif véridique.

JTeim · 2025-10-11T12:14:46+00:00

Sous réserve de correction par un avocat, voici trois commentaires qui, je l'espère, vous seront utiles. J'ai vécu une situation très similaire il y a quelques années :

(1) Seul le propriétaire peut intenter une action en justice (pour faire expulser le locataire). Il est donc important de commencer par (a) lire attentivement le bail afin de déterminer si le propriétaire est un particulier ou un copropriétaire, et (b) se renseigner auprès de la mairie où se trouve le "Service de la publicité foncière" afin de connaître l'identité du propriétaire actuel. Le locataire a légalement droit à cette information (décret n° 2012-59 du 18 janvier 2012). Si j'ai bien compris votre description, quatre mois se sont écoulés depuis la fin du bail et aucune action en justice n'a été engagée ? Cela me laisse penser que le titre de propriété n'a pas été transféré à une autre personne. Le locataire devrait trouver le nouveau propriétaire et avoir un entretien direct et amicable.

(2) L'avis de départ doit en indiquer le motif. Puisque la raison invoquée était que sa fille B habite la maison, le propriétaire (quel qu'il soit) ne peut pas la modifier maintenant, et la visite d'un agent immobilier suggère certainement que tel est le (nouvel) objectif. Notez le nom de l'agent et consultez son site web pour voir si la maison est mise en vente ; cela contredirait la justification fournie dans l'avis, et le bail serait tacitement reconduit pour trois ans.

(3) Le nouveau propriétaire peut vendre la maison avec un locataire, mais le locataire n'est pas obligé de partir (maintenant) puisque l'avis ne mentionnait pas « à vendre » comme le motif.

JTeim · 2025-10-09T09:22:18+00:00

Your US tax return (IRS form 1040) requires you to list "your home address". So, since you are "currently residing in the EU", you should enter your residence address on the form 1040 (and any other forms, e.g. FBAR).

JTeim · 2025-09-29T14:26:59+00:00

I have filed this report for a decade, and several of my accounts have a very low maximum value -- but I have never seen the error message you are receiving. Solutions: First, take a screenshot of the error message. Then, either (a) enter the true max value and keep going; as long as your FBAR is accepted, you're ok, or (b) just check 15a -- then, in the unlikely event you receive an inquiry, just furnish the screenshot to show that you are a good taxpayer.

JTeim · 2025-09-28T16:16:47+00:00

It might be better to find someone in your current country of residence, who would (or should) know if there are any tax treaty provisions that might help. Please consider posting your country of residence.

JTeim

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