Depending on your goals, the right business structure can help you reduce administrative burden, facilitate company growth, or shield you from personal liability — as well as have major tax benefits. If you’re a self-employed US expat, you may have wondered about the differences between the three most common options: LLCs, S corp and C corp. Each of these types of business structures has its own pros and cons, and what’s a good fit for one person may not be for another. So how do you know which option is best for you? The answer can be complex — but fortunately, we’re here to offer our knowled ..read more

Whether you’re running a business from your US home or while living abroad, buckle up. There’s a new document in town you’ll need to fill out—the Beneficial Ownership Information Report (BOIR). It sounds fancy, but think of this report as a way to introduce yourself and your business partners to the US government. Why the sudden meet-and-greet? Let’s unpack this together. What is the BOIR tax form? The BOIR (Beneficial Ownership Information Report) actually isn’t a tax form. It’s a new reporting requirement introduced by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), passed by  Congress in 2021.&n ..read more

At Bright!Tax, we believe in leveraging our resources to foster a brighter future. Through our Bright!Lights project, we channel our commitment to philanthropy by supporting initiatives that not only promise innovation but also have a profound impact on global well-being. Each project under Bright!Lights is carefully selected to ensure that our contributions meaningfully advance community and individual health. This year, amidst many worthy causes, we were drawn to a very personal and compelling need—the support of the United Brain Association (UBA). The UBA’s dedicated efforts to understand a ..read more

Americans looking to move to a beautiful, safe, and relatively affordable country in their golden years may want to retire in Costa Rica. Whether you want to relax, go on adventures, or indulge in a bit of both, Costa Rica’s got you covered. And with a dedicated retirement visa, moving there is much more attainable than you might think. So, who qualifies for this visa, what’s the country’s healthcare system like, and what are the tax implications of retiring in Costa Rica? We’ll go over all of these topics and more below. Benefits of retiring in Costa Rica Roughly 120,000 Americans — many of t ..read more

Budgeting as a digital nomad can be tricky, but it’s essential. Travel expenses can add up quickly, and you don’t want to run out of funds in a foreign country. That said, it’s definitely possible to travel — even for an indefinite amount of time — without breaking the bank. Below, we’ll go over everything you need to know about budgeting for a full-time digital nomad lifestyle: managing your finances, minimizing your tax liability, and more. Understanding your digital nomad expenses The first step in drawing up a monthly budget is estimating your expenses. When doing this, you should con ..read more

Exploring the best countries to teach English and save money? You’ve come to the right place to learn about the top locations around the world for those looking to travel, make money, and pursue a rewarding career. With quite a few countries offering high salaries, low taxes, a low cost of living, and sometimes even free furnished housing, you can quickly stack up savings while teaching English abroad. With fairly relaxed job requirements, many Americans are already qualified for foreign English teaching positions. Typically, you only need a Bachelor’s degree, a Teaching English as a Foreign L ..read more

Italy’s digital nomad visa has had buzz around it ever since the government first announced plans to offer one in March 2022. Between the country’s fascinating history, beautiful vistas, and incredible cuisine, it’s no wonder Italy is the fifth most-visited country in the world. For a long time, however, would-be applicants were in the dark on visa details. Until now. In the wake of significant legislative progress, information on the digital nomad visa has been trickling in. Below, we’ve rounded up everything we know about the visa, including when it goes live, who’s eligible, how long it las ..read more

As a digitally savvy expat, you likely have some experience with money service providers and payment systems like Wise, PayPal, and others. And it’s all fun and games until it’s time to file your FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts), the annual disclosure of your foreign financial accounts held outside the US. Generating worldwide income means you may have money in different currencies—potentially in several financial accounts held at foreign financial institutions. So, should you include them in your FBAR or not? Does it depend on the currency? In this article, we resolve your ..read more

For Americans considering or planning a move to Spain, reading up on the Beckham Law is a must. This special tax regime can offer significant tax cuts on Spanish-sourced income and exclude most worldwide income from Spanish taxation. Altogether, this can result in major savings on your tax bill. But who exactly qualifies for Beckham Law, what does it involve, and how can you claim it? We’ll go over all of these questions and more in our guide below. Beckham Law background & benefits The Beckham Law refers to the Spanish Royal Decree-Law 687/2005, a favorable tax program for foreign workers ..read more

Which country is better for investing in real estate, Panama or Costa Rica? Americans looking to move abroad while staying within the North American continent are increasingly asking this question. Both Latin American countries offer tropical climates, unspoiled nature, and vibrant expat communities. Of course, the two countries differ in some key ways—these differences are notable when comparing the real estate markets, tax laws, cost of living, and overall vibes. Below, we’ll walk you through investing in real estate in both Panama and Costa Rica. Read on for a breakdown of each country’s re ..read more