Searching for CPA experienced with International Tax & Foreign Capital Gains reporting

10 I handle cases like this regularly! Foreign investment taxation can definitely feel overwhelming when you're navigating it for the first time. Here's what you should know: As a US tax resident (through your L1 visa), you're required to report worldwide income, including those capital gains from your foreign brokerage account. This typically involves filing Schedule B, Form 8938 (Statement of Foreign Financial Assets), and possibly FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) if your foreign accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during the year. The US-Mexico tax treaty has specific provisions to prevent double taxation. Depending on the type of investments, you may be eligible for foreign tax credits for taxes paid in Mexico, which can offset your US tax liability. I'd recommend finding a CPA who specializes in expat taxation and has experience with the specific US-Mexico tax treaty provisions. Look for someone certified with international tax credentials or who belongs to organizations like the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) with international taxation focus.

13 After dealing with a similar situation (American expat with investments in multiple countries), I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me sort through all the complexity. I was overwhelmed trying to figure out which forms I needed and which tax treaties applied to my situation. What I like about taxr.ai is that they have deep expertise in international tax situations exactly like yours. They helped me identify reporting requirements I never would have known about for my foreign accounts and walked me through the documentation needed for compliance. Their system actually scans your documents and helps identify which forms and schedules you need based on your specific situation.

19 Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. Totally worth it for my situation! I had foreign accounts in Canada and Japan, and was completely lost trying to figure out my reporting requirements. Their system actually identified two forms I would have completely missed (Form 8621 for my foreign mutual funds which are considered PFICs and Form 3520 for a foreign trust). The detailed analysis saved me from potential penalties that would have been substantial. They also explained how the tax treaties applied to my specific investments, which helped me claim foreign tax credits correctly. My CPA was actually impressed with how thorough the documentation was that I brought to him afterward. Definitely made the whole process much less stressful!

5 I dealt with a similar international tax nightmare last year and spent WEEKS trying to get through to the IRS international tax department for clarification on some forms. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and watched their demo at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - they got me connected to an actual IRS agent within an hour when I'd been trying for days on my own. The IRS agent I spoke with gave me specific guidance on my foreign reporting requirements that none of the CPAs I talked to could definitively answer. Sometimes you just need to hear it directly from the source, especially with the complex international stuff where the penalties for mistakes can be huge.

16 I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it anyway since I was desperate to get clarity on my FBAR filing requirements before the deadline. Not only did I get through to an IRS specialist within 40 minutes (after trying unsuccessfully for THREE DAYS on my own), but the agent was able to answer my specific questions about reporting requirements for my foreign pension account. She even emailed me relevant sections of the tax code that applied to my situation. The peace of mind was absolutely worth it. No more guessing or relying on conflicting advice from internet forums. Sometimes you just need to hear it directly from the IRS, especially with these international tax issues where the penalties can be severe.

8 Just wanted to share a recommendation based on personal experience - I worked with Anderson Tax for my international situation (US citizen with investments in South America). They have specialists who focus specifically on cross-border taxation. Not cheap, but worth every penny for the peace of mind. They caught several things that would have been major issues, including some PFIC investments I didn't even realize I had.

3 Has anyone used H&R Block's expat tax services? They advertise international tax expertise but I'm wondering if they're actually good for complex situations or more for basic expat returns.

I've been dealing with international tax issues for years and wanted to add a few key points that might help with your specific situation: Since you mentioned you're on an L1 visa, make sure your CPA understands the substantial presence test implications and how it affects your filing requirements. Some CPAs miss the nuances of when your tax residency actually began versus when you physically arrived in the US. For your Spanish brokerage account, beyond the FBAR and Form 8938 requirements others mentioned, pay special attention to whether any of your investments are classified as PFICs (Passive Foreign Investment Companies) under US tax law. European mutual funds and ETFs are often treated as PFICs, which have incredibly complex reporting requirements on Form 8621. The penalties for missing this can be severe. Also, don't forget about potential state tax implications depending on which state you're residing in. Some states have their own foreign account reporting requirements or don't conform to federal tax treaties. One last tip - whatever CPA you choose, make sure they provide you with a comprehensive checklist of all required forms before filing season. International tax situations change frequently, and you want someone who stays current with the latest requirements.