US Expat Tax Filing OS

If you are one of the roughly 9 million Americans living abroad, tax season is a scramble to remember which accounts crossed which threshold. This is a year-round prep system that keeps it organized as you go. Every dollar threshold links straight to IRS.gov, so nothing here goes stale when the numbers change.

Used well, it trims the part of a CPA bill you are paying for organizing, or it lets you self-file the DIY-able pieces with a clear head. The strategy calls still belong to a professional.

What is in the drawer

A connected set of trackers and decision tools, the AI scaffolding to work through them, and a full setup from Wren.

Digital Workspaces (Notion)

• Foreign account aggregator that sums all foreign accounts and flags the FBAR $10k threshold automatically.
• FATCA Form 8938 threshold tracker that links to IRS for the current thresholds (they vary by filing status and where you live).
• FEIE-vs-FTC decision rubric with a year-side-by-side view.
• Physical Presence Test day counter for the 330-day rule.
• PFIC identifier that flags foreign mutual funds, UCITS, and ETFs that can trigger Form 8621.
• State residency severance tracker for the sticky states (CA, VA, NM, SC, NY).
• CPA-handoff package generator: a pre-formatted summary your CPA drops into their software.
• Treaty quick-lookup with 12 countries pre-seeded, each linking to the IRS treaty page.
• Streamlined Compliance pathway notes for taxpayers behind on filings, with a link to the current IRS eligibility page.
• Renunciation and Covered Expatriate caution section with a specialist link.

AI Scaffolding

• 5 AI body-double prompts: foreign-account summary, FEIE/FTC decision, CPA-handoff critique, Streamlined non-willful certification draft, and a CA residency severance check.
• AI Access Checklist with 10 tax-specific categories and strong redaction guidance.
• An AI integration setup PDF with explicit SSN-redaction guidance.

Print & Editable Files

• Canva editable companion you can adapt to your own situation.

Guidance & Support

• Welcome PDF from Wren.
• Step-by-step quickstart, 4-6 minutes.
• 30-Day Wren Email Support, 48-hour response.
• Lifetime Updates, with a quarterly refresh when IRS thresholds change.

Why this drawer exists

Expat tax is not hard because the math is hard. It is hard because the pieces are scattered across accounts, years, and two tax systems, and the numbers move every season. This is built to hold all of it in one place without overwhelming you.

• One home for every account, threshold, and day count, so nothing lives only in your head.
• Volatile numbers link out to IRS.gov instead of being embedded, so the tool stays correct over time.
• Decisions are framed as side-by-side rubrics, not walls of tax prose.
• The handoff package is pre-formatted, so the CPA conversation starts from organized data.
• Redaction reminders sit right next to the AI prompts, so your SSN never goes where it should not.
• The state tail is tracked on purpose, because that is where half the "I thought I moved out" surprises come from.

What this is not

• This is not tax, financial, or legal advice, and it is not a substitute for a CPA, an Enrolled Agent, or a tax attorney. Engage a professional with international experience for actual filing.
• This does not draft or file anything. It does not prepare Form 1040, 2555, 1116, 8938, 8621, or your FBAR. You organize. They file.
• This is not a PFIC strategy tool. Mark-to-market vs QEF election is a professional call.
• This does not give state-specific rulings. State residency rules vary; consult a CA, VA, NM, SC, or NY tax professional for severance complexity.
• This does not advise on renunciation. That is a serious and often irreversible decision; talk to a specialist before deciding.

Resources I would hand a friend at the kitchen table

(No affiliate links)

• IRS - International Taxpayers - the official master overview.
• IRS Publication 54 - the canonical reference, and where to verify the current FEIE amount each season.
• FinCEN BSA E-Filing - where the FBAR (FinCEN Form 114) is actually filed, separate from your 1040.
• IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures - the non-penalty path if you are genuinely behind.
• Phil Hodgen's blog - deep, plain-spoken expertise on renunciation and the Exit Tax.

The Fine Print

• Refunds: 30 days, no questions. Simply reply to your purchase email with the word "refund" or email wren@templatedrawer.com, and I will process it within 24 hours.
• Disclaimer: Template Drawer products are organizational workflow tools. They do not constitute legal, medical, or financial advice. Use alongside certified professionals. SIA Cyber Unicorn 40203002129.