Essential Return
$449
One country, employment income, no state filing obligation.
- Federal Form 1040 with Form 2555
- FBAR (FinCEN Form 114)
- Single host country
Service · expat tax returns · updated 28 August 2026
A complete US return from abroad is $599, federal and one state included.
One flat fee covers the federal return, one state return, FBAR, FATCA reporting, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion or foreign tax credit — whichever is better on your numbers — the foreign housing exclusion and any treaty position. Prepared and signed by an Enrolled Agent.
Complete Return
$599flat
Federal 1040
One state return
FBAR + FATCA
Housing exclusion
Extra state$89
Extension (4868)Free
Signed by Jorge I. Rivas, EA. The price quoted before work starts is the price invoiced.
What is included
- Federal Form 1040 with Form 2555 or Form 1116, chosen on the arithmetic
- One state return, and the residency position that decides whether you owe one
- FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) and FATCA (Form 8938) where the thresholds are met
- Foreign housing exclusion computed from your lease or employer statement
- Treaty position documented where a treaty applies
- E-filing, and the signed copy for your records
Simpler situations — federal and FBAR only, one country, employment income — are the $449 Essential Return. Self-employment, rental, investments or two countries in one year are the $995 Complex Return.
How it runs
01
Call
Twenty minutes. Countries, dates, income, accounts. You get the package and the fee.
02
Documents
One checklist, uploaded to a secure portal. Nothing sent by ordinary email.
03
Draft
You see the return and the election comparison before it is filed.
04
Filed and signed
Signed by me, e-filed, confirmations to you.
Which return is yours
Three returns, and the line between them.
The package follows the return, not the hour. If your situation lands between two of these, you get the number before any work starts.
Complete Return
Most common$599
The usual return from abroad, federal and one state included.
- Everything in Essential
- One state return, residency position
- FATCA (Form 8938) where met
- Foreign housing exclusion
- FEIE or foreign tax credit, whichever is better
- Treaty position documented
Complex Return
$995
Self-employment, rental, investments, dual-status, or two countries in one year.
- Everything in Complete
- Schedule C, E or D as required
- Dual-status or part-year positions
- More than one host country in a year
Above $130,000 of foreign earned income for tax year 2025, the exclusion stops covering everything and your host country's rate starts deciding the number. That is the conversation on the call.
Three questions
Will I owe anything?
Most clients abroad owe nothing once the exclusion and the housing exclusion are claimed properly. Above $130,000 of earned income for tax year 2025, it depends on your host country's tax rate.
Do I still file a state return?
It depends on the state and on what you kept there. One state is included; each additional state is $89.
When is it due?
15 June under the automatic extension for filers abroad; 15 October with Form 4868, which I file free.
Bring last year's return, and your travel dates.
Twenty minutes tells you which of the three returns is yours, and what it will cost. The qualification call is free.