What does Streamlined filing cost?
Streamlined procedure cost varies by case: every Streamlined filing is scoped and quoted individually by Capital Tax Limited based on your specific facts. A straightforward case typically runs into the low thousands of US dollars all-in; cases with complex assets, rental properties, or foreign business entities run higher. Here is what drives your proposal fee.
Straightforward Catch-Up
For expats with single-country employment, standard bank accounts, and clean tax ties.
- 3 Years of Federal Tax Returns (Form 1040)
- 6 Years of FBAR Disclosures (FinCEN 114)
- Form 14653 Non-Willful Certification Narrative
- Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) or Tax Credit optimization
- Post-filing correspondence support
Complex Financial Profiles
For expats with foreign corporations, complex investments, local trusts, or US state residency ties.
- All core requirements of the standard Streamlined program
- Foreign Mutual Funds & ETF Reporting (PFIC Form 8621)
- Foreign Corporation Ownership Disclosures (Form 5471)
- Foreign Trust & Local Tax Shelter Analysis (e.g. TFSAs)
- State Tax Domicile exit reporting (where applicable)
What drives your flat-fee proposal
While a Streamlined Foreign Offshore package has a fixed shape (3 returns, 6 FBARs, and 1 non-willful statement), the preparation time varies significantly. Here are the core drivers of expat complexity:
US State Ties
If you maintained domicile in a US state (or a state tax agency asserts you did), filing late state tax returns adds individual state years of work.
Rental Properties
Preparing Schedule E (calculating depreciation, converting local currencies, and cataloging expenses) is labor-intensive per property, per year.
Self-Employment
Running an overseas sole proprietorship requires Schedule C and Schedule SE calculations, along with coordinating totalization agreement exceptions.
Foreign Corporation Form 5471
One of the most complex filings in the tax code. Direct ownership in an active foreign business entity adds extensive corporate balance sheet reviews.
PFIC Holdings Form 8621
Foreign mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), or specialized investment structures qualify as PFICs. Each separate fund requires a Form 8621.
Account Volumes & FBARs
Expats with a substantial number of overseas accounts, high transfer frequencies, or complex currency exchanges require intensive transactional sorting.
The Simplicity Discount: The most significant factor that lowers preparation pricing is simplicity. Expats residing in a single foreign country, earning a single salary with local tax withholding, holding zero US state ties, and owning standard bank accounts qualify for the lowest flat-fee brackets.
What the flat fee covers
Capital Tax Limited uses a transparent scope of work. Your itemized quote outlines exactly what is covered without hidden filing surprises.
✓ Included Deliverables
- Federal Preparation: 3 full years of Form 1040 federal tax returns incorporating expat-specific credits.
- FBAR Reporting: Up to 6 years of FinCEN Form 114 filings, matching highest balance conversions.
- Form 14653 Narrative: Direct consultation to draft, audit, and finalize your non-willful statement.
- Package Assembly: Compiling, ordering, and bundling the physical filing package to the IRS.
- Submission Oversight: Direct shipping guidelines and post-submission notification verification.
✕ Outside Standard Scope
- Statutory Tax Owed: Any back taxes owed or accrued statutory IRS late-payment interest fees.
- Future Returns: Annual ongoing expat compliance filing requirements for subsequent tax years.
- Legal Representation: Active tax attorney representation in the rare event of audit or examinations.
- Corporate Tax Returns: Preparing standalone foreign corporation local tax declarations.
- Prior Year Amendments: Modifying previously submitted, non-delinquent expat returns.
How to get a firm quote
Every expat situation is unique. Rather than relying on generic "starting at" pricing that balloons during preparation, Capital Tax Limited provides a locked-in, flat-fee proposal upfront. Take 2 minutes to complete our secure intake, and receive a binding scope within two Asia business days.
Last reviewed · general information, not tax advice.