U.S. Taxpayer Abroad Preparation Checklist
Living abroad can add extra records to tax time. Start with your recent returns, income and travel dates, and we will work through the overseas details with you.
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Bring your U.S. and overseas records into one clear plan.
Download the checklist, mark what you already have and note the questions you want us to cover. Use it on your device or print a copy—whichever feels easier.
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The checklist stays on your device unless you choose to share it with us. Remember to save the file after adding your notes.
Leave Social Security numbers, PINs, passwords and bank details out of your notes. When documents are needed, we will show you how to share them securely.
Start here
- Previous U.S. and foreign tax returns
- Income and foreign-tax records
- Dates you lived, traveled and worked in each country
Missing something or not sure what a term means? Ask us. You do not need a completed checklist before we talk.
What to gather
Open the sections that fit your situation, or download the PDF to work through them offline.
Start with your recent returns and changes
- Gather previous U.S. federal and state returns, amended returns and foreign tax returns.
- Tell us about citizenship, residency, visa or household changes.
- Have identity and taxpayer-ID records ready to share securely. Do not write the numbers here.
- Tell us about unfiled years, tax letters and approaching response deadlines.
- Bring previous foreign-income elections, foreign-tax-credit carryover schedules and supporting tax workpapers, if available.
Where you lived, traveled and worked
- Prepare a dated travel calendar showing countries visited and days spent in the United States.
- Note where you physically worked, including remote work and business trips.
- Gather residence, housing and employment documents for your time abroad.
- List U.S. homes, work, licenses and family connections, along with your state filing history, for our review.
- Tell us if you moved abroad, returned to the United States or changed countries during the year.
Income from the U.S. and abroad
- Gather U.S. and foreign wage, benefit, bonus and self-employment records.
- Bring interest, dividend, investment-sale and rental records from every country that applies to you.
- Gather pension contribution, payment and benefit records, including non-U.S. plans.
- Tell us about income that was not reported on a U.S. tax form.
- Keep original amounts, currencies and transaction dates, along with any exchange rates already used.
- Keep overseas housing-cost records separate so we can review whether they are relevant.
Foreign taxes and your local advisor
- Gather foreign tax assessments, withholding records and payment confirmations by year and income type.
- Tell us about refunds, revised assessments, disputes or taxes covering a different tax period.
- Keep payment dates, dates taxes accrued and original currencies, as well as any converted totals.
- Let us know who advises you in your country of residence and which work they handle.
- Bring details of any employer arrangement to reimburse or equalize your taxes.
Overseas accounts and assets – if applicable
- Prepare a list of overseas accounts for secure delivery, including joint accounts and accounts closed during the year.
- Mention accounts you can sign for even if the money is not yours, so we can review them.
- Gather statements showing the highest balances during the year and year-end values.
- Gather ownership details, opening and closing dates, institution locations and account currencies.
- Bring previous FBAR and Form 8938 filings and confirmations, if any.
- Keep account numbers in the secure document system, not in this checklist.
Other overseas interests to discuss early
- Tell us about foreign mutual funds, other investment funds and insurance-based investment products.
- Mention any ownership or control of foreign corporations, partnerships or other businesses.
- Bring records of trusts, foundations, large foreign gifts or inheritances.
- Tell us about foreign pensions, ownership changes, property sales or changes in citizenship or residency.
- If international forms were missed in an earlier year, tell us before deciding how to address them.
Before we get started
- Make a short list of anything missing or being corrected, and when you expect it.
- Tell us early about tax letters, deadlines or questions from a previous year.
- We will confirm the U.S. returns and any additional reporting included. Local-country tax work is agreed separately with the appropriate advisor.
- Ask us how to share documents securely and confirm who can approve the work.
- We will explain the next steps for questions, reviewing your return, signatures and filing confirmation.
This is a general preparation guide. We may ask for additional records for your circumstances; the checklist does not determine tax eligibility or replace individual advice.
Living abroad should not mean figuring it out alone.
Bring the returns, income records and travel dates you have. We’ll help you work through what applies.