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Accounting for foreign investors
Clients from more than 20 countries bring us their U.S. property, companies and tax questions, in Spanish or English.
What a foreign owner has to get right
A non-resident who owns U.S. property or a U.S. company faces a different set of forms than a resident: a 1040-NR instead of a 1040, an ITIN instead of a Social Security number, and withholding rules that apply the moment a property is sold or rent is paid. Getting these right from the first year avoids penalties that are easy to trigger and slow to undo.
The structure matters too. Whether to hold a Miami condo personally, through an LLC or through a corporation changes the income tax, the estate tax exposure and the reporting. We go through the options before you buy, not after.
Our office has worked with international clients for more than 18 years. Meetings happen in person, by phone or by video, in Spanish or English, and documents are shared securely, so distance is not an obstacle.
What we handle
- ITIN applications (Form W-7) and renewals
- Form 1040-NR returns for non-resident owners and rental income
- FIRPTA withholding on sales of U.S. property: Forms 8288 and 8288-A, and the Form 8288-B withholding certificate application
- Form 5472 and the pro forma 1120 for foreign-owned single-member LLCs
- LLC or corporation setup with the right structure for foreign ownership
- Ongoing bookkeeping and compliance for the U.S. entity
“Marta and Carla are absolutely incredible. They are fast, reliable, informative, and friendly. I have been doing my taxes with them for over 5+ year wouldn’t have it any other way. You won’t regret working with them 10/10 recommend.”
Questions we hear from this industry
I don’t have a Social Security number. Can I still file a U.S. return?
Yes. You file with an ITIN, which we apply for with Form W-7 alongside your first return. The ITIN is for tax filing only; it does not change your immigration status.
What is FIRPTA?
When a foreign person sells U.S. real property, the buyer must generally withhold 15% of the sale price and send it to the IRS. If the actual tax is lower, a withholding certificate (Form 8288-B) can reduce the amount withheld, and the rest is settled on the 1040-NR.
My LLC has no income yet. Do I still have to file anything?
If the LLC has a single foreign owner, it must file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 for any year in which it has a reportable transaction with its owner, and the initial capital contribution counts, so the first year almost always requires it. The penalty for missing it starts at $25,000, so we put it on the calendar from day one.
Can you help me open the company before I move to the U.S.?
Yes. The entity, the EIN and the initial filings can all be done remotely. We then set up the books so the company is ready when you are.
Tell us what you do
Book a free 15-minute consultation online, or call us today. In person or remote, in English or Spanish.