Do I still file US taxes if I live abroad?

Yes. US citizens and green card holders file every year on worldwide income. Living abroad does not change the filing requirement; it changes what exclusions and credits you can claim.

FEIE or foreign tax credit, which is better?

Depends on host country tax rates and income level. High-tax countries (UK, Germany, France): the foreign tax credit usually beats FEIE. Low-tax or zero-tax (UAE, Singapore): FEIE usually wins. A CPA runs both.

What is FBAR and who has to file?

FinCEN Form 114, required for any US person with foreign financial accounts totaling over $10,000 at any point in the year. Penalties for non-filing are severe ($10,000+ per non-willful violation).

CPA for Expats: FEIE, Foreign Tax Credit, FBAR, and Form 8938

US expats need a CPA who handles the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) or foreign tax credit calculation, FBAR filings on foreign accounts above $10,000, Form 8938 on foreign financial assets, and totalization agreements for self-employment tax. Expect $750 to $2,500 per return depending on complexity.

US citizens owe federal tax on worldwide income regardless of where they live. The FEIE excludes up to about $126,500 (2026) of foreign earned income; the foreign tax credit avoids double taxation when the host country also taxes that income. Choosing between them matters: FEIE is simpler but caps the benefit. FBAR (FinCEN 114) is required for any aggregate foreign account balance over $10,000 at any point in the year; Form 8938 kicks in at higher thresholds and goes with the 1040. Missing either carries heavy penalties. A CPA experienced with expat returns also knows when the streamlined foreign offshore procedure applies for taxpayers behind on filings.

What's typically involved

We're expanding this page with the full playbook for expats: elections to make, common mistakes generalists miss, fee expectations, and the specific credentials to look for. In the meantime, the matching form below routes your situation to a CPA whose practice fits.

What CPA work looks like at the fee level

Service	Typical 2026 range
CPA hourly rate	$150 to $450 / hour
Schedule C (sole proprietor)	$190 to $800
Single-member LLC return	$300 to $1,500
S-corporation return (1120-S)	$1,200 to $3,500
Partnership return (1065)	$1,000 to $5,000+
C-corporation return (1120)	$1,500 to $4,000+

Disorganized records ("shoebox" engagements) typically increase fees by 1.5x to 2.0x.
Each additional K-1 partner usually adds roughly $300 to $500.
Ranges reflect entity type, bookkeeping state, and complexity. Quotes vary by region and CPA experience.

Full table with methodology lives in the 2026 CPA Compass Fee Benchmark.

Get matched with a CPA for expats

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TaxProMatch is an independent matching resource. We are not a CPA firm and do not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.

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