Expat Tax Services Comparison

Select up to 3 expat tax preparation services to compare across key dimensions. Data is approximate and for informational purposes only.

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This month's picks

How we pick

Three US tax preparers that serve non-resident LLC owners — Form 5472 + 1040-NR or 1120 + treaty positions. Many US-domestic CPAs decline non-resident filings.

OUR PICK

1040 Abroad

Best for: Non-resident LLC owners, Form 5472 + treaty positions, flat fee transparency

Visit 1040 Abroad
ALSO GREAT

Greenback Expat Tax

Best for: US-citizen expats + complex multi-jurisdiction filings

Visit Greenback Expat Tax
BUDGET

Bright!Tax

Best for: Higher-volume filings, established firm, slightly lower per-return cost

Visit Bright!Tax

1040 Abroad

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MyExpatTaxes

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Model
CPA-managed
CPA-managed
DIY software
Federal Return (1040)
$565
$500
$115–639
FBAR (FinCEN 114)
$125 (up to 5 accounts)
$100
Included (Base Full+)
FATCA (Form 8938)
$120 (up to 5 accounts)
Free with federal return
Included (Base Full+)
Form 5472 (Foreign-owned LLC)
$405 (foreign-owned US LLC); $275 (corporation)
$300 (includes pro-forma 1120)
Not available
Form 5471 (Foreign Corp)
$750 (active); $350 (dormant)
$1,000
Corporate $939; or Premium $639 + $359
Form 8865 (Foreign Partnership)
$475
Unknown — ask vendor
Corporate $939; or Premium $639 + $359
State Return
$185
$100
$69–139
FEIE (Form 2555)
Included
Included
Included
Streamlined Filing (Catch-up)
$1,750
$1,800
$875
Who Prepares
CPAs and EAs
CPAs
Software; tax-pro review (Reviewed+); pro-prepared (Premium+)
Turnaround
2–4 weeks
2–3 weeks
Immediate self-file; 5–10 business days if reviewed
Trustpilot Rating
4.8 (1,654 reviews)
4.9 (231 reviews)
4.7 (5,140 reviews)
Non-Resident LLC Support
Yes (Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120)
Yes (Form 5472 + pro-forma 1120)
No
IRS Representation
Not available
Unknown — ask vendor
Notice support (Reviewed+)
Accuracy Guarantee
Not available
Unknown — ask vendor
Unknown — ask vendor
Notes

CPA-prepared with the widest per-form coverage, including Form 5472 plus the pro-forma 1120 that foreign-owned single-member LLCs need. Priced per form rather than by tier, so cost scales with the number of information returns filed. Its client agreement scopes out IRS audit representation and offers no accuracy guarantee.

CPA-prepared, with the cheapest Form 5472 filing of the three ($300, pro-forma 1120 included) — the decisive form for foreign-owned single-member LLCs. Cheaper than Greenback on the base return and 5472, but MORE expensive on Form 5471 ($1,000 vs $750), so "cheaper across the board" does not hold. Streamlined catch-up is near-parity with Greenback.

Lowest-cost option for US citizen expats, and the only DIY route here. Supports Form 5471/8865 for US persons with foreign corporations via the Corporate plan ($939) or Premium + surcharge. Cannot file Form 5472 / pro-forma 1120, so it is not an option for non-US persons who own a US LLC.

All data is approximate and intended for informational comparison only. Pricing, features, and availability change frequently. Verify all figures directly with each provider before making tax filing decisions.

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How We Compared

We compared pricing, supported filing types, expat specialization, non-resident experience, software vs. CPA models, and additional services across tax preparation providers.

10 data points per service·Last reviewed March 2026

Why Trust This

  • Built by Jett Fu — 20+ years running cross-border businesses
  • Affiliate links are marked. Most services listed have no affiliate relationship. Details
  • Data sourced from provider websites. We verify pricing and features periodically.

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