Most people reach out to us when they realize their situation is more complex than expected, and too risky to get wrong.
The Edge You Need in International Tax
We don’t just handle your tax filings. We help you understand the tax consequences of your global footprint so you can build a strategy to protect your wealth and peace of mind, no matter where you live or work.
Navigating U.S. international tax laws is complex and ever-changing. Whether you're a tax professional seeking guidance, a business owner expanding globally, an organization sending its employees on foreign assignments, a foreign national relocating to the U.S., a U.S. citizen moving outside of the U.S., or an expatriate trying to stay compliant, Your Expat Tax CPA is here to provide expert solutions tailored to your unique needs.
With over 20 years of experience in international tax, we simplify the complexities of U.S. tax compliance so you can focus on what matters most: growing your business, living the life you dreamed of by relocating overseas, securing your financial future, etc.
About Us
At Your Expat Tax CPA, we specialize in bridging the gap between tax law and compliance for CPAs, tax professionals, business owners, organizations, and individuals navigating cross-border tax challenges.
Managed by Laura M. Tshilumba CPA, a former agent with the IRS Large Business and International Division, seasoned international tax advisor, speaker, and CPE instructor, our firm provides comprehensive tax solutions, consulting, and education to ensure accuracy, compliance, and peace of mind.
We understand that international tax isn't just about numbers and behind every number there is a story, a journey. We understand international tax is also about strategy, planning, compliance, and protecting your financial well-being (and peace of mind). Our mission is to equip tax professionals, organizations, and individuals with the knowledge and tools they need to understand the tax consequences of their global footprints and to be globally tax efficient.
Who We Serve
We help clients navigate the intersection of U.S. tax law, international investments, business ownership, and life across borders. We also partner with legal, tax, immigration, financial, and wealth professionals on cross-border matters requiring specialized expertise.
đź”· Tax Professionals | CPAs & EAs: Your clients' international tax issues don't have to become your firm's specialty. We provide technical support, specialized foreign information return preparation, PFIC analysis and Form 8621 reporting, offshore tax remediation, and professional training.
đź”· Tax Attorneys who need to collaborate on complex international tax matters, IRS offshore compliance and remediation, foreign asset disclosures, and technical tax analysis. We also provide specialized accounting and tax support under attorney-directed Kovel arrangements, when appropriate.
đź”· Immigration Attorneys: A successful immigration strategy should not create an unexpected U.S. tax problem. We help your clients navigate the intersection of immigration and taxation, including pre-immigration planning, foreign assets and businesses, U.S. tax residency, and potential expatriation consequences.
đź”· Global Mobility, HR & Relocation Professionals: You manage the move. We help address the U.S. tax consequences. From inbound executives to outbound assignments, we provide specialized tax planning, employee compliance support, and guidance on complex cross-border compensation and reporting obligations.
đź”· Business Owners and International Entrepreneurs: Expanding overseas or establishing a U.S. presence? We help you evaluate cross-border business structures, foreign entity reporting, international tax exposure, and the tax consequences of operating across jurisdictions.
đź”· Foreign Nationals Moving to the U.S.: Your U.S. tax story can begin before you arrive. We provide pre-immigration tax planning, foreign asset and entity assessments, tax residency guidance, and U.S. tax compliance support to help you enter the U.S. tax system with greater confidence.
đź”· Digital Nomads & Remote Workers Abroad: Working remotely from another country doesn't eliminate your U.S. tax obligations. We help U.S. citizens and residents navigate foreign income reporting, tax residency, foreign tax credits, and cross-border compliance while living and working internationally.
đź”· Accidental Americans & Dual Citizens: Discovering that you're subject to U.S. taxation can raise unexpected questions about foreign accounts, investments, and past filings. We help assess U.S. tax obligations, identify reporting gaps, and evaluate available compliance options.
đź”· Cross-Border Wealth Advisors & Financial Professionals: An investment that makes financial sense abroad may create unexpected U.S. tax consequences. We provide PFIC due diligence, foreign investment tax assessments, and guidance on the U.S. tax implications of foreign funds, pensions, and cross-border investment structures.
đź”· U.S. Citizens & Residents Working for the United Nations & International Organizations: Working for the UN, World Bank, IMF, or another international organization creates specialized U.S. tax considerations. We help eligible professionals navigate compensation, tax residency, treaty provisions, and U.S. filing obligations.
đź”· U.S. Expats who need assistance with U.S. tax compliance, IRS offshore voluntary disclosure programs for their delinquent foreign disclosures, comprehensive review of their U.S. tax returns prepared by another tax professional to ensure their global tax liability is legally minimized, etc.
đź”·Real Estate Professionals and Closing Attorneys: We support transactions involving foreign sellers of U.S. real estate, including FIRPTA withholding, compliance, and related U.S. tax considerations.
Learn about our services
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Cross-border tax decisions deserve more than a tax return. We help U.S. taxpayers, globally mobile families, and international businesses navigate complex tax obligations with clarity and confidence. Our services include:
✔ U.S. Expat Tax Planning & Compliance – Foreign income, foreign tax credits, exclusions, and international reporting obligations.
✔ Cross-Border Business Tax Advisory – Foreign entity structuring, ownership reporting, and international tax planning.
✔ Global Mobility & Expatriation Tax– Tax considerations for international assignments, relocations, and U.S. expatriation.
✔ Foreign Assets & International Reporting – Forms 5471, 5472, 8621, 8858, 8865, 8938, FBAR, and other specialized disclosures.
✔ Foreign Pensions & Tax Treaties – Cross-border retirement arrangements and treaty considerations.
✔ FIRPTA Withholding & Compliance – U.S. real estate transactions involving foreign sellers.
Our goal: Help you understand your global tax position, anticipate risks, and make informed decisions before they become costly problems.
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Foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and certain international investments can trigger complex U.S. tax rules under the Passive Foreign Investment Company (PFIC) regime, even when those investments are tax-efficient overseas.
We help U.S. investors, expatriates, tax professionals, and wealth advisors navigate PFIC taxation, reporting, and investment-related tax exposure.
Our PFIC services include:
✔ PFIC Due Diligence & Pre-Investment Assessments – Evaluate potential U.S. tax consequences before investing in foreign funds, including Golden Visa and residency-by-investment funds.
✔ PFIC Identification & Analysis – Assess foreign mutual funds, ETFs, and other investments for PFIC classification and reporting requirements.
✔ PFIC Tax Elections & Planning – Evaluate available elections, including QEF and mark-to-market elections, and their tax implications.
✔ Form 8621 Preparation & Compliance – Specialized reporting for current and prior-year foreign investments.
✔ Delinquent PFIC Reporting & Remediation – Assess previously unreported investments and available corrective filing options.
✔ Specialized Support for CPAs & Advisors – Technical analysis, PFIC reporting, and investment tax due diligence for clients with complex foreign portfolios.
Before you invest, or discover an unexpected reporting obligation, understand what your foreign investments mean for your U.S. taxes.
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Moving to the United States changes more than your address. It can fundamentally change how your worldwide income, investments, businesses, and assets are taxed.
We help foreign nationals, inbound executives, entrepreneurs, and immigration attorneys understand the intersection of U.S. immigration and tax law before and after relocation.
Our services include:
✔ Pre-Immigration Tax Planning – Evaluate worldwide assets, income, and ownership structures before U.S. tax residency begins.
✔ U.S. Tax Residency & Treaty Analysis – Understand residency rules, applicable tax treaties, and U.S. filing obligations.
✔ Foreign Investment & Business Assessments – Identify potential PFIC, foreign corporation, trust, and international reporting exposure.
✔ Inbound Executive & Entrepreneur Planning – Address cross-border compensation, business ownership, and relocation-related tax considerations.
✔ Immigration Attorney Collaboration – Coordinate tax planning with immigration strategies, including permanent residency and potential expatriation considerations.
The best time to understand your U.S. tax exposure is before your move, NOT after.
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When the IRS raises questions about foreign income, investments, or offshore reporting, experience matters. Our founder, Laura Tshilumba, CPA, is a former IRS Large Business & International (LB&I) agent and former international tax practice leader in public accounting.
Having worked on both sides of the table, she brings a distinctive understanding of international tax compliance, IRS examination procedures, and how complex cross-border issues are evaluated.
Our services include:
✔ IRS International Tax Audits & Examinations – Representation involving foreign income, assets, entities, and international reporting.
✔ Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures – Assessment and preparation of eligible domestic and foreign offshore submissions.
✔ Delinquent International Information Returns – Remediation involving Forms 5471, 8621, 8865, 8938, FBAR, and other foreign disclosures.
✔ Offshore Compliance & Voluntary Disclosure– Evaluation of available IRS compliance and disclosure pathways.
✔ DOJ & Criminal Tax Matters – We collaborate with experienced criminal tax attorneys on matters involving potential tax fraud, willful offshore noncompliance, and Department of Justice (DOJ) investigations, providing specialized international tax analysis and accounting support under appropriately structured Kovel agreements.
When your international tax situation requires more than routine compliance, you want someone who understands both the tax law and the IRS process.
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International tax rules are complex. Understanding how they apply in practice requires more than reading the instructions.
Our founder, Laura Tshilumba, CPA, shares her international tax expertise with CPAs, enrolled agents, tax attorneys, and other professionals through continuing professional education programs and industry presentations.
Training topics include:
✔International Information Reporting – Forms 5471, 8621, 8865, 8938, and related compliance obligations.
✔PFIC Taxation & Foreign Investments – Classification, reporting, elections, and practical compliance considerations.
✔IRS Offshore Compliance & Remediation – Streamlined procedures, delinquent disclosures, and IRS examination insights.
✔Global Mobility & Cross-Border Taxation – Expatriate taxation, inbound planning, and international business matters.
Laura has presented through various professional education platforms.
Interested in a speaking engagement or specialized international tax training? Contact our firm to discuss opportunities.
Are you a CPA, EA, or tax attorney struggling with complex international tax topics? Become the go-to international tax expert for your clients!
Join our Mailing List to Be the First to Know about our upcoming CPE webinars
What they say after attending my CPE courses:
Speaking Engagements & Industry Events
Speaking Engagements & Industry Events
Laura M. Tshilumba, CPA brings a distinctive perspective to conversations about international taxation, global mobility, and life across borders.
A former IRS Large Business & International agent, former international tax practice leader, global traveler and first-generation immigrant, Laura has experienced the complexities of crossing borders both professionally and personally.
Her insights combine firsthand knowledge of IRS examination practices, more than two decades of international tax experience, and the pattern recognition that comes from advising clients through complex cross-border decisions.
She brings more than technical expertise to the stage. Through real-world scenarios, practical insights, and engaging storytelling, Laura helps audiences recognize the tax implications of decisions they may not have realized were connected.
Available for:
Tax Conferences & Professional Education
Global Mobility & International Relocation Events
Wealth Management & Investment Forums
Immigration & Legal Industry Events
Podcasts, Webinars & Panel Discussions
Corporate & Private Training
Planning an event for an internationally minded audience? Bring a perspective that connects the tax rules, the real-world decisions, and the consequences nobody saw coming.
Meet our Founder
Laura M. Tshilumba, CPA | Founder, Your Expat Tax CPA
With over 20 years of experience in U.S. international taxation, Laura brings a rare perspective to cross-border tax advisory: she has worked on both sides of the IRS examination table.
A former IRS Large Business & International (LB&I) Revenue Agent and international tax practice leader in public accounting, Laura combines technical expertise, firsthand knowledge of IRS examination practices, and the ability to recognize complex tax issues that others may overlook.
Today, she leads Your Expat Tax CPA, a boutique firm advising globally mobile individuals, international investors, business owners, and fellow professionals on complex U.S. international tax matters.
A Global Perspective Beyond the Tax Code
Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laura is a first-generation immigrant, fluent French speaker, and international traveler. Cross-border life isn't just her professional specialty; it's part of her lived experience.
Her cultural intelligence and global perspective inform a practical, human-centered approach to helping clients navigate the intersection of international tax laws and real-life financial decisions.
Leadership & Beyond
Laura is an international tax educator and speaker who shares practical insights through professional education platforms and industry events. She is a member of the AICPA, Georgia Society of CPAs, National Society of Black Certified Public Accountants, and National Association of Black Accountants.
Beyond taxation, Laura is a certified health mindset and integrative health nutrition coach with a passion for executive well-being and sustainable leadership.
Her mission: To help clients navigate complexity with confidence and make informed decisions wherever life and business take them.
Contact us.
đź“ŤLocation: Virtual Office
Atlanta, Georgia 30350
đź“žPhone: 470-485-3062
💡Let’s connect today!
To provide thoughtful, personalized guidance, we do not offer complimentary tax consultations. If you would like to discuss your U.S. international tax situation, please schedule a consultation using the link below.
Schedule A Consultation Call With US
For media inquiries, speaking opportunities, referral partnerships, or general administrative questions, please complete the contact form and our team will respond within 48 business hours.
Book a Consultation
Your cross-border tax questions deserve more than generic answers.
When your financial life crosses borders, even seemingly straightforward decisions can raise complex U.S. tax questions.
Our 30-minute consultation gives you direct access to a former IRS Large Business & International agent with over 20 years of international tax experience.
Whether you're navigating foreign investments, international business ownership, relocation, or previously unreported foreign assets, we'll discuss your situation, identify key considerations, and help you understand your potential next steps.
This isn't a sales call. It's a focused conversation designed to help you move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
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đź”· Fee: $350 (flat fee)
đź”· Duration: Up to 30 minutes
đź”· Format: Virtual callYour consultation is dedicated to discussing your cross-border tax concerns, priorities, and potential next steps. To make the most of our time, please come prepared with a brief overview of your situation and your most important questions.
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Our goal is for you to leave the conversation with:
đź”· Greater clarity about the U.S. tax considerations relevant to your situation.
đź”· An experienced perspective on potential risks, opportunities, and issues worth investigating.
đź”· Practical direction on possible next steps and whether specialized analysis or compliance assistance may be appropriate.
đź”· Confidence in your options, including whether our firm is the right fit to assist you.This is a high-level advisory consultation, not a comprehensive tax assessment, document review, or second opinion on another professional's work. Matters requiring detailed analysis are scoped separately.
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Your $350 consultation fee covers the professional time and expertise dedicated to your session.
If additional advisory, compliance, or remediation services are appropriate, we'll explain the recommended next steps and discuss the scope of a potential engagement.
There is no obligation to retain our firm following your consultation. Any additional services are separately scoped and priced, and consultation fees are not credited toward future engagements.
The Cross-Border Tax Newsletter
Cross-border tax has an irritating habit of becoming important AFTER you’ve already moved countries, bought the property, opened the account, invested in the fund, started the company, or discovered that the perfectly normal financial decision you made overseas is apparently VERY interesting to the IRS. And no, moving to the U.S. doesn’t save you either. Sometimes America welcomes you with open arms…and a reporting obligation nobody mentioned at immigration.
That’s why you want to be on this list BEFORE one of my stories becomes your story. I’m a former IRS Large Business & International agent, so trust me: I’ve seen some things. Now I tell the cross-border tax stories that make people stop mid-scroll and say, “WAIT. I did that.” Smart tax intel. Real situations. No fear-mongering. Minimal tax jargon. Because some lessons are significantly cheaper when you learn them from somebody else’s story.
What Shows Up In Your Inbox:
🔷 Before-you-move tax conversation – Because some problems are dramatically cheaper to prevent before you pack the good luggage.
🔷 “Wait…I had to report THAT?” stories – Foreign accounts, pensions, investments. companies, trusts. inheritances and other perfectly normal things that become considerably less normal once U.S. tax law enters the chat.
🔷 Expensive little surprises – The decisions that looked completely reasonable overseas…and created a very different result in the United States
🔷 The “how did nobody catch this?” files – What happens when immigration, investments, payroll, business, estate planning and U.S. tax all collide at the border.
🔷 International tax without the tax coma – Enough context to help you recognize when something deserves a closer look, without pretending a newsletter can replace advice for your specific situation.
Send Me the Tax Stories
Cross-border tax stories for people building lives, businesses, and wealth between countries.
Your Inbox Is Already Full. So Why Subscribe to This One? Because the right cross-border tax story, read at the right time, can change what you do before it becomes expensive.
✔The peace of sleeping at night because the IRS won’t – Knowing your filings are actually handled, not just “my accountant filed something, so I assumed we’re good.”
✔The luxury of finding out BEFORE you do the thing – Before you move, invest, sell, restructure, open the company, or transfer the money. Revolutionary concept, apparently.
✔Knowing which “perfectly normal” foreign investments the U.S. may absolutely hate – Because “my financial advisor recommended it” and “the IRS likes it” are two completely different sentences.
✔Keeping more of your money out of the “well, nobody told me” budget – Penalties, professional fees, amended returns and cleanup work are an expensive way to learn international tax.
✔Walking into major financial decisions knowing what questions to ask – You don’t need to become a tax expert. You need to recognize when somebody needs to call one.
✔Having your U.S. and foreign financial lives actually talk to each other – Two accountants filing two perfectly lovely tax returns does not automatically equal one coordinated cross-border strategy.
✔Moving countries without discovering six months later that your tax life did something completely different – Immigration may stamp the passport. Tax law has its own itinerary.
✔Building wealth globally without accidentally building a compliance project – Foreign companies, pensions, funds, property and accounts can come with U.S. consequences nobody put in the brochure.
✔Recognizing the red flag while it’s still a red flag, not a $30,000 problem – Sometimes one story is all it takes to realize, “Wait…we need to look at this.”
✔Being the person who says, “Thank GOD I read Laura’s email about this.” – Because the best cross-border tax problem is the one you recognize before it becomes your story.
You’re going to get emails anyway. Get the ones that might save you from an expensive mistake.