The expat tax landscape
Filing US taxes from abroad shouldn't cost $1,500+ or take weeks of back-and-forth email chains. Here's how every option stacks up.
Not built for expats
General tax software is designed for Americans living in America. If you live abroad, these tools will leave critical forms unfiled, money on the table, and penalties on your doorstep.
TurboTax, H&R Block, and TaxAct are built for domestic filers. Foreign earned income, treaty elections, and multi-currency reporting are either unsupported or buried behind premium tiers.
RSU vesting across jurisdictions, ISO exercises, and ESPP dispositions create complex cross-border reporting. General software doesn't account for any of it.
Most DIY tools don't even flag your FinCEN 114 or Form 8938 obligations — let alone help you file them. One missed form can mean a $10,000+ penalty.
Choosing between the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit is the single biggest decision on an expat return. Generic software gives you no guidance.
Right expertise, wrong price
Greenback, Bright!Tax, Taxes for Expats, H&R Block Expat — they know cross-border tax. But the experience hasn't changed in 20 years.
For a single federal return. State filing, FBAR, and advisory are extra.
You send documents, wait days for questions, send more documents, and wait again.
Every question requires a back-and-forth thread. No portal, no progress tracking.
You hand over your documents and hope for the best. No real-time progress, no control.
Testimonial· 2026 filing
I was quoted $1,300 by one firm and $1,800 by another — for a straightforward UK-based return with equity compensation. Before state filing or any advisory add-ons.
Built for this
Every form, calculation, and workflow is purpose-built for Americans living abroad. Full expat complexity coverage — at a fraction of the cost.
One-time fee · incl. VAT
Best for: Straightforward W-2/salary income with standard US investment accounts.
Get started — $250One-time fee · incl. VAT
Save $500+ vs traditional firms
Best for: Returns with equity comp, capital gains, rental income, foreign accounts, business income, or other complex situations.
Get started — $850We deliver the same expat coverage as specialist firms — without the cost, the wait, or the email chains.
Specialist Firm
$1,300 – $2,000+
$250 – $850
FEIE & FTC optimization
Equity comp (RSU / ISO / ESPP)
Treaty elections (Form 8833)
FBAR & FATCA compliance
UK / NL / Spain jurisdiction support
IRS-ready PDF package
Professional CPA / EA review
Advisory memo with citations
Done in under 30 minutes
Real-time progress tracking
No back-and-forth emails
Under $850
Full expat tax coverage — FEIE, FTC, equity comp, treaty elections, FBAR, FATCA — starting at $250. With optional professional review at $850 for complete peace of mind.
Competitor prices are approximate ranges based on publicly available information and real quotes from the 2026 filing season. Actual prices vary by provider, complexity, and add-ons. Agentax provides tax preparation software and AI-assisted advisory memos — it is not a licensed tax advisor, CPA, or enrolled agent.