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Key takeaways
- The US taxes citizens on worldwide income, so expats need tools that handle Form 2555 (exclusion) and Form 1116 (foreign tax credit).
- Expatfile and MyExpatTaxes are DIY software built only for expats; TurboTax works for simpler foreign income but has gaps on complex expat forms.
- Bright!Tax, Greenback and Taxes for Expats are done-for-you services where a CPA prepares your return.
- Sprintax is the specialist pick for nonresident aliens filing 1040NR, a completely different job from expat filing.
- FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is filed separately from your return and carries penalties starting around $16,000 per violation, so confirm who handles it.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 TurboTax | Simple foreign income on a resident return | See website | Free to start |
 Expatfile | DIY expat filing at a low flat fee | From $119/return | Free trial |
 MyExpatTaxes | DIY expat filing with built-in FBAR | From $115/return | Free trial |
 H&R Block Expat Tax Services | Expats wanting DIY or advisor help | From $99 (DIY) | No |
 Greenback Tax Services | CPA-prepared expat returns | From $565/year | No |
 Bright!Tax | Premium CPA-prepared expat returns | From $800 | No |
 Taxes for Expats | CPA-led filing for complex situations | From $450 | No |
 Sprintax | Nonresident aliens filing 1040NR | From $54.95 (federal) | No |
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The best tax software for foreign income
Starting priceSee website
Free planFree to start
TurboTax is the familiar option for Americans with some foreign income who still live mostly domestic financial lives. Its premium DIY tiers cover the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555), the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) and foreign asset reporting (Form 8938), with search-driven guidance that jumps straight to the right section.
The honest catch is that TurboTax is general software with expat features, not expat software. Treaty analysis, multi-country pension treatment and catch-up streamlined filings are where expat specialists earn their fees. If your return involves more than foreign salary and taxes paid abroad, compare the specialist tools below before buying.
What we like- Guided interview for foreign income and credits
- Handles Form 2555 and Form 1116 on DIY Premium tiers
- On-demand expert help available
Watch out for- Pricing changes through the season
- Complex expat situations can exceed what DIY covers
Starting priceFrom $119/return
Free planFree trial
Expatfile is built only for Americans abroad, and the whole product feels like it. A plain-language questionnaire walks you through foreign earned income, the exclusion and the foreign tax credit, then generates and e-files the return, with direct FinCEN FBAR e-filing included.
The pricing is the story: from $119 per return flat, you start free and pay only when you file. Self-employed expats and investors move to higher flat tiers instead of paying per form. The catch is that you are on your own with the questionnaire unless you pay for review, so messy multi-country situations may still want a human preparer.
What we like- Flat per-return pricing with no per-form upcharges
- Supports Forms 2555, 1116 and treaty benefits
- Authorized IRS e-file provider with FBAR e-filing
Watch out for- FBAR support is instructions rather than full preparation on some tiers
- Expert review is an upgrade, not included
Starting priceFrom $115/return
Free planFree trial
MyExpatTaxes takes the same DIY approach as Expatfile with a different emphasis: FBAR reporting is included in the Base plan rather than handled as an add-on, and the plan ladder covers salary, business and investment income in clear steps. The software starts free and you pay when you file.
The differentiator is the upgrade path. When a return gets complicated, you can add a professional review or hand the whole thing to a tax professional inside the same platform. That continuity is worth something for expats whose situations change year to year, even if the headline price runs slightly above the cheapest DIY option.
What we like- FBAR included in the Base plan
- Covers self-employment and investment income
- Optional professional review and full preparation upgrades
Watch out for- More expensive than Expatfile at comparable tiers
- Advanced corporate forms only on the top tier
#4
H&R Block Expat Tax Services
Best for: Expats wanting DIY or advisor help
Visit hrblock.com
Starting priceFrom $99 (DIY)
Free planNo
H&R Block is the only global consumer tax brand with a dedicated expat operation, and it shows in the options. You can file yourself with expat-specific DIY software starting around $99 for simpler employment-income returns, or work with an expat tax advisor virtually for complex situations, with an upfront price quote.
That flexibility is the appeal for people who are not sure how complicated their situation is. Start DIY and escalate to an advisor if the return gets hairy, all inside one company. The tradeoff is that the DIY price starts above the expat-only DIY tools, and full advisor preparation is priced by quote.
What we like- Both DIY software and advisor-prepared options
- Global brand with offices in 14+ countries
- Accuracy guarantees and Second Look reviews
Watch out for- DIY expat product starts higher than expat-only competitors
- Advisor pricing is quote-based
Starting priceFrom $565/year
Free planNo
Greenback is a fully done-for-you service: you upload documents to a secure portal, a dedicated CPA or Enrolled Agent who works with expats full time prepares the return, and you pay only after reviewing the finished work. Federal preparation runs from $565 a year depending on complexity, with FBAR, state returns and streamlined catch-up filings priced separately.
This is the middle tier of the done-for-you market, transparent flat fees without the premium positioning of higher-priced firms. It fits expats who want a specialist human to own the outcome without paying top-of-market rates. There is no self-serve software, so even simple returns start at the service price.
What we like- Flat-fee pricing quoted before work starts
- One-on-one CPA or Enrolled Agent
- Specialized in expats with 155+ countries served
Watch out for- No DIY option for simple returns
- Streamlined catch-up packages are a separate product
Starting priceFrom $800
Free planNo
Bright!Tax positions itself at the premium end of expat tax preparation. Every client gets a dedicated CPA team, tax prep starts at $800 flat with add-ons confirmed before you start, and the firm offers separate streamlined catch-up packages and paid advisory for complex cross-border decisions.
For the price you get white-glove handling and deep expertise in multi-country situations, pension reporting and complex exclusions. For a straightforward salary return with the FEIE, it is more firepower than you need, and the flat fee reflects that. Choose it when the situation is genuinely complicated.
What we like- Flat fees quoted upfront with no surprises
- Dedicated CPA team for each client
- Strong streamlined catch-up and advisory offerings
Watch out for- Highest starting price among done-for-you options
- Overkill for simple employment-income returns
Starting priceFrom $450
Free planNo
Taxes for Expats is a CPA firm that works only on expat returns, with no DIY software in the mix. Federal return preparation starts from $450 and climbs with income and complexity, covering foreign income, credits and deductions, plus harder forms like PFICs and corporate information returns when needed.
The firm leans into expertise over software: every return passes a CPA-level review, and the team handles situations the DIY tools punt on, such as accidental Americans, expatriation and green card holders. If your tax life spans entities, trusts or multiple jurisdictions, a firm like this is the right comparison set.
What we like- Seasoned CPAs with a decade plus of expat experience
- Federal return preparation from $450
- Handles PFICs, 5471s, streamlined filings and expatriation
Watch out for- Full service means higher cost than DIY
- Pricing rises with income level and complexity
Starting priceFrom $54.95 (federal)
Free planNo
Sprintax belongs on this list for a different reader: the nonresident alien with US tax obligations, such as international students, scholars and short-term visa holders. Resident software like TurboTax can actually produce the wrong return for this group, while Sprintax exists to file 1040NR correctly with treaty benefits and residency determination.
Federal preparation starts from $54.95, with state returns, Form 8843 and other services priced separately. Universities widely recommend it to their international populations. If you are a US citizen or green card holder, this tool is not for you; pick from the expat options above.
What we like- Purpose-built for nonresident alien returns
- Handles 1040NR, 8843, treaty claims and ITIN
- Trusted by hundreds of universities
Watch out for- Not for US citizens or resident aliens
- State returns and add-ons cost extra
How we chose
We compared pricing pages, supported form lists, public reviews on Trustpilot and review sites, and documentation for tools covering foreign income, expat filing and nonresident returns. We distinguished DIY software from done-for-you services and from the nonresident specialist, since they serve different buyers. We checked prices on vendor sites in October 2026 and did not test any software hands on.
How to pick the right kind of foreign income tax help
The category splits into three distinct buyers, and knowing which you are matters more than comparing feature lists.
DIY expat software
If you are an American abroad with mostly salary income, the FEIE or the foreign tax credit, and no entities or trusts, DIY expat software is the value pick. Expatfile, MyExpatTaxes and the H&R Block expat DIY product are all built for exactly this job, starting around $99 to $119. Confirm FBAR handling before you buy, since the approaches differ.
Done-for-you preparation
Once the situation includes self-employment across borders, foreign pensions, PFICs, corporate forms or multiple years to catch up, a specialist CPA usually pays for itself. Greenback, Bright!Tax and Taxes for Expats all quote flat fees upfront, so get the quote before comparing. One missed foreign form can cost more in penalties than the preparation fee.
Nonresident alien filing
If you are in the US on a visa and classified as a nonresident for tax purposes, most resident software is actively wrong for you. Sprintax is the purpose-built option for 1040NR filing, and many universities provide it. Do not use general tax software without confirming it supports nonresident returns.
FEIE or foreign tax credit
The two main mechanisms for avoiding double tax are the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555), which excludes earned income up to an annual limit, and the Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116), which credits foreign taxes paid against US tax owed. Which is better depends on your country and income mix, and most expat tools model both. A quick consult with an advisor can save real money here.
The FBAR trap
Foreign bank accounts totaling over $10,000 trigger FinCEN Form 114, filed separately from your tax return. The penalties are severe, starting above $16,000 per non-willful violation. Make sure whichever option you choose either files it or clearly tells you how to, because this is the form that catches expats by surprise.
Ask an expat what their tax software covers and they will tell you about the exclusion. Ask their preparer what caused the biggest penalty and the answer is usually FBAR, or Form 8938, or a missed 5471 for a foreign company. The income exclusion gets the attention, but the reporting forms carry the risk.
That is the real reason to buy expat-specific help instead of shoehorning foreign income into general software. A tool that asks about your accounts, your pension, your company and your crypto before it asks about your salary is protecting you from the expensive mistakes. Whatever you choose, make sure the forms beyond 2555 are actually handled.
Frequently asked questions
Do Americans living abroad have to file US taxes?
Yes. US citizens and green card holders must file a federal return on worldwide income regardless of where they live, if they meet the filing threshold. Expats abroad generally get an automatic filing extension to June 15, and can request further extension to October 15. Filing is also how you claim the FEIE or foreign tax credit.
What is the difference between the FEIE and the foreign tax credit?
The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (Form 2555) lets qualifying expats exclude a set amount of foreign earned income from US tax. The Foreign Tax Credit (Form 1116) gives a dollar-for-dollar credit for income taxes paid to a foreign government. The exclusion suits lower-tax countries; the credit suits higher-tax ones. They can sometimes be combined on different income.
Can TurboTax handle foreign earned income?
TurboTax DIY Premium tiers support Form 2555 and Form 1116, so straightforward foreign salary and foreign tax credit situations work. It is less suited to complex expat situations like multi-country pensions, treaty analysis, PFICs or streamlined catch-up filings. For those, expat-specific software or a specialist CPA is the safer choice.
How much does expat tax preparation cost?
DIY expat software runs from about $99 to $175 per return. Done-for-you CPA preparation starts around $450 to $800 per year for federal returns, depending on complexity, with FBAR, state returns and extra forms priced separately. Streamlined catch-up packages for multiple years typically run from $875 to over $1,750.
What happens if I have not filed for several years?
The IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures let non-willful filers catch up by submitting three years of returns and six years of FBARs, usually with no penalties. Several services on this list offer flat-fee streamlined packages. Do not simply start filing current-year returns without addressing the back years, since that can create its own problems.
Is Sprintax the same kind of tool as Expatfile?
No. Expatfile is DIY software for US citizens and resident aliens living abroad. Sprintax is for nonresident aliens, such as international students and scholars, who must file Form 1040NR. Using resident tax software as a nonresident can produce an incorrect return, so the classification matters more than the brand.
Sources we checked (14)
- https://turbotax.intuit.com
- https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/brand/turbotax-do-it-yourself-premium-how-it-works-and-whats-included/c2v7wkYzX
- https://expatfile.tax
- https://expatfile.tax/pricing/
- https://www.myexpattaxes.com
- https://www.myexpattaxes.com/do-it-yourself/
- https://www.hrblock.com/expat-tax-preparation/expat-tax-preparation-and-services/federal-tax-prep/
- https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/11/2174492/0/en/U-S-expats-have-tax-filing-help-with-H-R-Block-s-new-DIY-tax-software.html
- https://www.greenbacktaxservices.com
- https://www.greenbacktaxservices.com/blog/us-expat-tax-calculator/
- https://brighttax.com
- https://www.taxesforexpats.com
- https://www.taxesforexpats.com/services/expat-tax-return.html
- https://www.sprintax.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has spent more than a decade helping SaaS and e-commerce brands grow through search. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.