US·UK Accountants

Who we help

US tax help for Americans living in the UK

As a US citizen in the UK you file with both the IRS and HMRC, but you rarely owe tax twice. You'll typically have a US federal return, possibly an FBAR for UK accounts over $10,000, and a UK Self Assessment — all of which should be coordinated. We handle both sides so your reliefs line up and nothing is missed.

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By Sam H., Founder & Lead Advisor

Reviewed by Katie M. · 2026-01-22

Moving to the UK doesn’t end your relationship with the IRS. The US is one of the only countries that taxes its citizens on worldwide income wherever they live — so as an American in Britain you have an annual US filing obligation on top of anything HMRC expects.

The good news: being taxed twice is usually avoidable. Between the Foreign Tax Credit, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the US–UK treaty, most of our clients legally owe tax on a given income source in only one country. The risk isn’t double tax — it’s missed filings, mishandled pensions, and reliefs claimed in the wrong order. That’s what we get right.

We help Americans in the UK who are…

  • Working for a UK employer or your own UK company
  • Self-employed or contracting in the UK
  • Holding UK bank accounts, ISAs or pensions
  • Behind on US filing and wanting to catch up
  • Recently arrived and getting it right from year one
  • Long-settled and wanting a cleaner, coordinated approach

Frequently asked questions

Yes. US citizens must file a US federal return on worldwide income every year regardless of where they live. Living in the UK does not end this — but the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, Foreign Tax Credit and US–UK treaty usually prevent double taxation when claimed correctly.

Often yes. If your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any point in the year you must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114), and larger balances may also require FATCA Form 8938. We handle both alongside your return.

UK pensions including workplace schemes and SIPPs interact with US tax and the treaty in specific ways. This is one of the most common areas Americans in the UK get wrong, and one we plan for directly.

Usually not, if it was a genuine oversight. The IRS Streamlined Filing programme lets non-willful Americans abroad catch up — typically three years of returns and six years of FBARs — without penalties. We handle these regularly.

Get your US–UK position handled by specialists

Book a free consultation with a team that does this every day.