This session will help advisors understand the key U.S. tax issues that arise when clients relocate internationally—whether for work, retirement, or family reasons. We will walk through the most common foreign reporting requirements and how they apply in real life, including bank accounts and investment accounts held abroad, foreign pensions, and foreign entities. The presentation will highlight timing and residency considerations that can affect a client’s filing obligations and tax exposure before departure, while abroad, and upon return to the U.S. Attendees will learn how to identify common red flags, avoid frequent reporting mistakes, and coordinate effectively with overseas professionals. We will also discuss practical planning steps and checklists that advisors can use to support clients proactively. The goal is to provide clear, actionable guidance that reduces compliance risk and helps clients make smoother cross-border transitions.
Learning Objectives:
After attending this session participants will come away with:
- Identify the most common U.S. foreign reporting obligations that arise when clients hold overseas financial accounts, investments, pensions, or entities (e.g., FBAR, Form 8938, and related information returns).
- Explain how U.S. tax residency rules and timing (departure/arrival dates, treaty tie-breakers, and filing statuses) can change a client’s U.S. filing requirements and tax exposure.
- Evaluate common relocation scenarios to determine key compliance risks and “red flags,” including foreign earned income, foreign tax credits, and reporting of foreign retirement and investment accounts.
- Apply a practical advisor checklist to coordinate planning steps with legal/immigration and foreign tax professionals, helping clients reduce surprises and avoid late-filed international forms and penalties.
Meet Maria Szobi, CPA; Owner, Pressburg Tax Services PLLC
Maria Szobi, CPA is the Founder and Principal of Pressburg Tax Services PLLC, a Seattle-based tax practice focused on U.S. and international tax compliance and advisory. She launched her firm in 2020, serving individuals and closely held businesses with cross-border footprints and foreign reporting obligations.
Before starting her own firm, Maria spent six years at Clark Nuber, where she worked in the firm’s International Tax niche group. She then continued her career at King & Oliason (now Eide Bailly) working for high-net-worth individuals clients.
Maria’s work emphasizes practical, advisor-friendly guidance on foreign reporting and the tax considerations clients face when relocating internationally, including planning for compliance, minimizing surprises, and coordinating across jurisdictions.