U.S. Expat Tax Burden: How the Residence-Based Taxation Movement Could Change Everything
September 2, 2025
Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, speaks with Brandon Mitchener of Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad about the fight to replace citizenship-based taxation with residence-based taxation and why reform is closer than ever.
In this episode of Passport to Wealth™, Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, interviews Brandon Mitchener, Executive Director of Tax Fairness for Americans Abroad, to unpack the urgent fight for residence-based taxation. Brandon shares his personal story of living more than 35 years in Europe while still being subject to citizenship-based taxation (CBT) a system that forces millions of Americans abroad to file and pay U.S. taxes despite earning no U.S. income. Together, they explore the financial discrimination expats face, from banking restrictions and compliance costs to lost retirement opportunities and gender inequities.
Listeners will learn why citizenship-based taxation is outdated, how residence-based taxation (RBT) works in the rest of the world, and what legislative efforts are underway in Congress to finally bring fairness to Americans abroad. Brandon explains the current progress of the Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act, the bipartisan support behind it, and why expats must share their stories with Congress to help push reform over the finish line.
If you’re a U.S. citizen living abroad struggling with unfair tax obligations, this conversation will show you that change is possible and how you can be part of it.