International & Non-Resident Tax

Specialized tax compliance for International Students, Scholars, and Global Investors. We bridge the gap between U.S. tax law and your immigration status.

⚠️ Important for F-1/J-1 Students: Most standard tax software (like TurboTax) cannot handle Form 1040-NR correctly. Filing as a "Resident" by mistake can impact your visa status.

International Students & Scholars

(F-1, J-1, M-1, H-1B Visas)

Navigating the "Substantial Presence Test" is confusing. We ensure you file the correct forms to stay compliant with both the IRS and USCIS.

  • Form 1040-NR: Preparation of Non-Resident Alien returns.
  • Form 8843: Mandatory filing even if you had $0 income.
  • Tax Treaties: Leveraging treaties (like U.S.-China Article 20) to legally reduce tax.
  • FICA Refunds: Recovering Social Security/Medicare taxes wrongly deducted from student paychecks.

Foreign Asset Reporting

(FBAR & FATCA)

If you are a U.S. resident (or Green Card holder) with money abroad, the penalties for non-disclosure are severe. We handle the complex reporting.

  • FBAR (FinCEN 114): Required if your foreign accounts total over $10k.
  • FATCA (Form 8938): Reporting specified foreign financial assets.
  • Foreign Gifts (Form 3520): Reporting large gifts from non-U.S. relatives.
  • Pre-Immigration Planning: Strategy before you become a U.S. tax resident.

Need an ITIN? We Are a Certified Acceptance Agent (CAA)

If you need a tax ID (ITIN) but are not eligible for an SSN, you usually have to mail your original passport to the IRS for months. Not with us.

As a CAA, we are authorized to verify your passport right here in our office (or via video interview under specific conditions). You keep your passport; we handle the paperwork.

How We Work With International Clients

Whether you are in Irvine or overseas, our process is 100% digital and secure.

01. Analyze

We determine your tax residency status (Resident vs. Non-Resident) based on your visa history.

02. Secure

Upload your documents (I-20, Passport, W-2) to our encrypted portal. No email risks.

03. File

We prepare the return, apply treaty benefits, and e-file (or provide mailing instructions for 1040-NR).