U.S. Expat Taxes: Year-End Strategies You Can't Miss
December 9, 2025
In this episode of Passport to Wealth, Arielle Tucker CFP®, EA and international tax expert Emily Haines, CPA, break down the nine most important year-end tax and financial planning strategies for U.S. expats. From the foreign earned income exclusion vs. foreign tax credits, to Roth IRA pitfalls abroad, PFIC traps, currency exchange impacts, estate and gift considerations. This is a must-listen for Americans living overseas who want to avoid costly tax mistakes and plan smarter for the year ahead.
Moving abroad is exciting, but navigating US taxes as an expat can be overwhelming, confusing, and full of expensive pitfalls. In this episode, we sit down with Emily Haines, CPA, the CEO & Founder of Xpatax Solutions, and Arielle Tucker, CFP®, EA, to break down the biggest mistakes Americans make when living and working overseas and how to avoid them.
Whether you're already an expat or preparing to move abroad, this episode gives you the clarity you need on topics like foreign tax credits (Form 1116), PFICs, foreign pensions, local retirement accounts, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE), and year-end tax planning for US citizens abroad.
Emily and Arielle explain why the US and foreign tax systems often don’t align, how well-meaning expats unintentionally create long-term tax problems, and what you should review each year to stay compliant and optimize your global financial strategy.