How much does expat tax preparation cost?

Zenith Financial offers transparent, competitive pricing for US expat tax preparation. Our fees are based on the complexity of your tax situation rather than a one-size-fits-all rate, ensuring you only pay for the services you need.

Our Standard Expat Filing package starts at $500 and covers the most common expat scenario: a single-country filing with employment income, FEIE or FTC, and standard deductions. This includes Form 1040, Form 2555 or Form 1116, and FBAR filing.

The Cross-Border Filing package, starting at $800, is designed for more complex situations including multiple income sources, self-employment, investment income, or filing in countries with specific treaty considerations. This includes everything in the Standard package plus additional schedules, treaty-based return positions (Form 8833), and Form 8938.

The Comprehensive Filing package, starting at $1,200, handles the most complex scenarios: multiple countries, business income, PFICs, foreign trusts, stock options, rental properties, and other specialized situations requiring forms like 5471, 8621, 3520, or 8865.

Additional services are priced separately: state tax returns start at $150, amended returns (Form 1040-X) start at $250, Streamlined Filing Compliance packages (3 years returns + 6 years FBARs) are priced individually based on complexity, and Canadian T1 returns for cross-border filers are available as an add-on.

All pricing is provided upfront after your free consultation, with no hidden fees. If your situation turns out to be more complex than initially assessed, we discuss any fee adjustments before proceeding. We offer payment plans for larger engagements.

We believe our pricing reflects excellent value given the specialized expertise required for expat returns and the potential savings we achieve through optimal tax strategy. Many clients save far more than our fees by taking advantage of exclusions, credits, and treaty provisions they were not previously using.