🇺🇸 Optimized for Americans

Why ExpatAce is built
for Americans

Moving abroad as an American is fundamentally different from moving abroad as anyone else. Most expat tools don't account for that. ExpatAce does.

The problem with most expat tools: They're built for a global audience, which means they ignore the specific legal, tax, and financial reality of being an American abroad. They'll tell you what things cost — they won't tell you what the IRS will do about it.

The American difference

Americans face unique challenges abroad that most expat tools ignore

The United States is one of only two countries in the world that taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of where they live. That single fact creates a cascade of obligations, decisions, and risks that are completely invisible in most expat planning tools.

Most expat tools
  • Show cost of living data
  • List visa requirements generically
  • Ignore US tax obligations entirely
  • Don't mention FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit
  • Never explain FBAR filing requirements
  • Assume Medicare works abroad
  • Don't flag Social Security implications
  • Built for a generic global audience
ExpatAce
  • Shows cost of living data for your exact profile
  • Flags visa income requirements relevant to Americans
  • Includes US tax treaty status per country
  • Flags FEIE eligibility and Foreign Tax Credit
  • Explains FBAR in plain English
  • Explicitly addresses Medicare abroad
  • Covers Social Security and totalization agreements
  • Built specifically around American expat reality

US Tax Reality

The US taxes citizens on worldwide income — wherever they live

This is the single biggest fact most Americans don't know before researching a move abroad. You don't stop owing US taxes when you leave. You file US returns every year for life. What changes is how much you owe — and with the right planning, many Americans pay far less than they expect.

📋
Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE)
Excludes up to ~$132,900 of earned income from US tax (2026)
The FEIE allows qualifying Americans to exclude foreign earned income from US taxation. Critical for Americans still earning income abroad — freelancers, remote workers, consultants. Does NOT apply to pensions, Social Security, IRA or 401k withdrawals, rental income, dividends, or capital gains. If you are retiring on passive income, FEIE may have limited relevance.
ExpatAce flags FEIE eligibility per country based on the US tax treaty status.
✓ Built into ExpatAce
💱
Foreign Tax Credit (FTC)
Offsets US tax with taxes already paid to a foreign country
For most retirees living on passive income — pensions, Social Security, IRA withdrawals, investments — the Foreign Tax Credit is more relevant than FEIE. It allows you to offset your US tax liability with taxes you've already paid to your country of residence, eliminating double taxation in most cases.
ExpatAce flags US tax treaty status per country — the foundation for FTC applicability.
✓ Built into ExpatAce
🏦
FBAR — Foreign Bank Account Report
Separate annual filing if foreign accounts exceed $10,000 aggregate
FBAR is not part of your tax return. It's a separate annual filing with the US Treasury required if the combined total of all your foreign bank accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the year. Example: three accounts each holding $4,000 = $12,000 combined → FBAR required. Penalties for non-compliance are severe — up to $10,000 per violation. FinCEN FBAR information →
🌍
FATCA — Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act
Requires US citizens to report foreign financial accounts automatically
FATCA requires US citizens to report foreign financial accounts to the US government regardless of where they live. Foreign banks are required to report US account holders to the IRS. This applies automatically — you don't trigger it by any specific action, but you must comply. Some foreign banks now refuse to open accounts for US citizens because of the compliance burden this creates.

Medicare Abroad

Original Medicare generally does not cover care outside the US

This is the most commonly misunderstood healthcare issue for Americans planning a move abroad — and one of the most financially dangerous if ignored.

🏥
Original Medicare abroad
Medicare Parts A and B provide very limited or no coverage for routine care received outside the United States. In most cases, you'll be paying out of pocket.
⚠️
Part B late enrolment penalty
Drop Medicare Part B while abroad and return to the US later? You face a permanently higher Part B premium — a penalty that lasts for life. Factor this into your decision.
Medicare.gov — Part B costs →
🩺
Medigap abroad
Some Medigap plans cover emergency care outside the US — but this is emergency coverage only, not routine care. Review your specific plan carefully before relying on it.
💡
What most expats do
Keep Medicare Part A (typically premium-free). Make an informed decision about Part B. Get comprehensive private international health insurance for routine care abroad.

Social Security Abroad

Most Americans can receive Social Security abroad — with caveats

The good news: you generally don't lose Social Security by living abroad. The caveats: payments to some countries are restricted, and how your benefits are taxed depends on your destination and the applicable tax treaty.

📋
Totalization agreements
Prevent double social security taxation in treaty countries
The US has totalization agreements with many countries that prevent you from paying social security taxes in both the US and your country of residence simultaneously. If you're still working abroad, these agreements determine which country's social security system you contribute to. SSA — International agreements →
🏦
Direct deposit abroad
Available in most countries — but not all
Social Security payments can be deposited directly to a foreign bank account in most countries. A small number of countries have payment restrictions — verify your specific destination before relying on this. SSA — Payments outside the US →

Built into ExpatAce

How American-specific context is built into your results

Every city score and data card in ExpatAce reflects the specific reality of moving abroad as an American. Here's exactly what we account for:

What we check How it appears in ExpatAce
US tax treaty status Flagged per country in your results. Determines whether the Foreign Tax Credit can eliminate double taxation on passive income. In results
FEIE eligibility Flagged per country. Relevant for Americans still earning income abroad. In results
Special local tax programmes Where countries offer favourable tax regimes for new residents (e.g. Portugal's NHR, Panama's territorial tax), these are flagged and explained. In results
US State Dept advisory level Every country in our database is checked against the current US State Department advisory level (Level 1–4). Level 3 and 4 countries are excluded from results. In results
Visa income requirements in USD Minimum income thresholds are shown in US dollars and cross-referenced against typical US retirement income sources. In results
Expat community size North American expat community size is rated per city — a practical indicator of English availability and social integration ease. In results
FBAR / FATCA guidance Explained in the email series every subscriber receives — not assumed knowledge. In email series
Medicare abroad guidance The Medicare decision (keep Part B or not) is covered in detail in the email series. In email series

Ready to find your city?

Answer 16 questions and get your top 5 personalised city matches — with US tax context, real costs, and safety scores built in.

Take the free quiz →
102 cities · 49 countries · Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

Nothing on this page constitutes legal, tax, financial, immigration, insurance, or investment advice of any kind. Information is general in nature and may change. Always consult qualified professionals — including a US expat tax specialist and licensed financial advisor — before making any relocation decisions. ExpatAce is not a law firm, tax practice, investment advisor, or insurance broker.