U.S. EXPAT TAX PREPARATION • CPA-LED • REMOTE
Still filing U.S. taxes from abroad?
Your life moved overseas. Your U.S. filing obligations may not have. Work directly with a U.S. CPA who understands foreign paychecks, taxes, bank accounts and the practical realities of living internationally.
We prepare U.S. individual tax returns for Americans abroad, identify relevant foreign reporting requirements and explain what is needed before filing. No guessing which forms apply. No trying to make a domestic-only tax workflow fit an international life.
You work directly with a U.S. CPA. The service is designed for clients who want one professional to understand the international facts, organize the filing and remain available when questions arise.
North Carolina CPA | U.S. federal tax preparation | Germany-based, serving clients remotely
WHO WE HELP
U.S. taxes are different when you live somewhere else.
Whether you moved recently or have lived abroad for years, the U.S. return can involve information from more than one tax system. We help make the U.S. side manageable.
- U.S. citizens and green-card holders living in Germany, Europe or elsewhere abroad
- Employees with foreign salaries, local income taxes or employer benefits
- Freelancers and self-employed Americans with international income
- Families with a non-U.S. spouse, children or changing filing circumstances
- People with foreign bank accounts, investments or retirement arrangements
- Americans behind on filing or unsure what they should have reported
A real CPA.
Your actual situation.
One organized U.S. filing.
THE VALUE PROPOSITION
Direct professional relationship
Discuss the facts with the CPA responsible for your engagement, not only a tax questionnaire.
Cross-border perspective
We consider foreign income, foreign taxes, relevant U.S. relief provisions and international reporting together.
Clear scope before work begins
We identify likely forms, special issues and pricing implications before confirming the engagement.
Practical document guidance
We identify likely forms, special issues and pricing implications before confirming the engagement.
WHAT WE PREPARE AND REVIEW
01
U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURN
Preparation of the core U.S. individual income tax return and the schedules required by your facts.
- Form 1040 preparation
- Wage, self-employment, investment and other income reporting
- Itemized or standard deduction analysis as applicable
- State-return coordination when a state filing is required
- Electronic filing when eligible and appropriate
02
FOREIGN INCOME & DOUBLE-TAX RELIEF
Cross-border return preparation often requires more than translating a foreign payslip into dollars.
- Foreign salary and self-employment income
- Foreign tax credit considerations and Form 1116 where applicable
- Foreign earned income exclusion / Form 2555 where applicable
- Foreign housing considerations where relevant
- Foreign-source investment income and withholding review
03
FOREIGN FINANCIAL REPORTING
We identify common foreign-account and foreign-asset reporting requirements as part of the filing process.
- FBAR / FinCEN Form 114 preparation when required
- Form 8938 / FATCA reporting when applicable
- Review of foreign account ownership and signature authority
- Identification of facts that may require additional specialist reporting
04
PRIOR-YEAR & COMPLIANCE CLEANUP
If the issue is not this year but the years behind you, the first step is to build a clear filing picture.
- Prior-year return preparation
- Late or missing foreign-account reporting review
- IRS notice and correspondence triage within the agreed scope
- Coordination with specialist counsel or advisers where a formal remediation program is needed
05
YEAR-ROUND CROSS-BORDER TAX PLANNING SUPPORT
A tax return should not become a once-a-year mystery.
- Pre-filing document checklist
- Questions during the year about income or reporting changes
- Planning flags identified during return preparation
- Coordination with local-country tax advisers where appropriate
WHY NOT JUST USE TAX SOFTWARE?
Software can be a sensible option for straightforward returns. But when your facts cross borders, the challenge is often not entering numbers — it is determining which facts matter, what must be reported and which questions to ask. Our service is built for clients who prefer professional preparation and direct discussion over navigating that process alone.
We do not promise a larger refund or a lower tax bill. We focus on accurate, supportable filings and a clearer process.
HOW THE PROCESS WORKS
PRICING AND EXPECTATIONS
Straightforward scope. No surprise form list.
Your quote reflects the complexity of the filing, number of years, additional reporting and advisory needs. We explain what is included, what is excluded and when extra work would require approval. Do not publish a fixed starting price until the service inclusions and economics are finalized.
Frequently Asked Questions
Professional disclosure: Drapalski Consulting LLC provides U.S. tax preparation and related advisory services. Led by Ross A. Drapalski, CPA (North Carolina). Engagements are subject to acceptance and written terms. Information on this page is general and not individualized tax or legal advice.