Cross-Border
Planning
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Strategic advice to help US expats manage their US tax position efficiently while living, working, or running a business overseas.
Moving abroad or running a business across borders adds layers of complexity to your US tax obligations. Without proper planning, you can end up paying more than necessary or inadvertently falling out of compliance.
We provide proactive, strategic tax planning tailored to your situation — whether you're relocating, investing abroad, operating a foreign business, or planning for retirement. Our goal is to help you structure your affairs efficiently while remaining fully compliant with US tax law.
Relocation Planning
Pre-move tax strategy to ensure your relocation is structured in the most tax-efficient way possible.
Business Structuring
Guidance on operating a foreign business while managing US reporting requirements and minimising tax exposure.
Long-Term Strategy
Retirement, investment, and estate planning considerations for US expats with cross-border financial lives.
Cross-border tax planning is not a one-time exercise. As your life abroad evolves — new income, new investments, changes in residency, business growth — your US tax strategy must evolve with it. Proactive planning prevents costly surprises and ensures you are always in the strongest possible position.
The Process
How Cross-Border
Planning Works.
Situation Assessment
We review your current residency, income sources, assets, business interests, and long-term plans to build a complete picture of your cross-border tax position and identify areas of risk or opportunity.
Pre-Move Planning
If you are relocating abroad, we develop a pre-departure tax strategy covering timing of income, asset dispositions, retirement account considerations, and state tax departure planning to minimise exposure.
Entity & Structure Review
For business owners operating across borders, we review corporate structures, foreign entity classifications (including PFIC and CFC rules), and intercompany arrangements to ensure US tax efficiency.
Ongoing Tax Strategy
We provide year-round advisory on income timing, investment structuring, retirement contributions, and estate planning to keep your US tax position optimised as your circumstances evolve.
Coordination with Local Advisors
We work alongside your foreign tax advisors and financial planners to ensure your US and local tax strategies are aligned, avoiding conflicts and maximising available benefits in both jurisdictions.
Planning Ahead
Key Areas of
Cross-Border Strategy
Relocating abroad triggers a range of US tax considerations that most expats don't anticipate. State tax departure rules, the timing of income and deductions around your move date, and the treatment of stock options or deferred compensation all require careful planning before you leave.
For US expats already living abroad, ongoing planning focuses on optimising the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, maximising Foreign Tax Credits, and managing the tax treatment of foreign retirement accounts, rental properties, and investment portfolios. The interaction between US and local tax rules creates both risks and opportunities.
Business owners face additional complexity — including Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) rules, Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) classifications, and transfer pricing requirements. We help structure your business affairs to remain compliant while minimising unnecessary US tax exposure.
Who Benefits from
Cross-Border Planning?
Expats Relocating Abroad
If you are planning a move overseas, pre-departure tax planning can save significant money by addressing income timing, asset dispositions, state tax exit rules, and retirement account strategies before you leave the US.
Foreign Business Owners
US citizens or green card holders who own or control foreign businesses face complex CFC, PFIC, and GILTI rules. Proper structuring can reduce your effective tax rate while maintaining full compliance.
Investors with Foreign Assets
Foreign real estate, investment accounts, pensions, and business interests all have specific US tax implications. We help you structure these assets to avoid unexpected tax liabilities and reporting penalties.
Returning to the US
Repatriation brings its own tax challenges — from re-establishing state residency to unwinding foreign structures and addressing accumulated foreign income. We ensure your return is as tax-efficient as your departure.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked
Questions
Ideally, before you relocate. Pre-move planning allows us to address income timing, asset dispositions, retirement account strategies, and state tax departure rules before they become problems. However, even if you are already living abroad, proactive planning can still significantly improve your tax position going forward.
Yes. If you own or control a foreign corporation, you may be subject to Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC) rules, GILTI (Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income), and Subpart F income reporting. We help structure and report your foreign business interests to ensure compliance and minimise unnecessary tax.
A Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) is a foreign corporation that derives most of its income from passive sources or holds mostly passive assets. US persons who invest in PFICs face punitive tax treatment unless specific elections are made. Many foreign mutual funds and investment trusts are classified as PFICs.
You can, but the US tax treatment varies significantly by country. Some foreign pensions are recognised under tax treaties, while others are treated as foreign trusts or PFICs. Proper structuring and reporting are essential to avoid unexpected tax liabilities.
Repatriation requires careful planning to address the unwinding of foreign structures, re-establishment of state residency, and treatment of accumulated foreign income and assets. Without planning, you may face an unexpected tax bill in the year of return.
Yes. Cross-border tax planning works best when your US and local tax strategies are aligned. We regularly coordinate with foreign accountants, solicitors, and financial advisors to ensure there are no conflicts or gaps between jurisdictions.
Get in Touch
Ready to get
your US taxes
sorted?
Whether you need help with IRS Streamlined filings, annual US tax returns, or cross-border tax planning — our team is here for you.
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