The Tax-Savvy Expat Podcast

Stewart Patton, US Tax Attorney and Expat Entrepreneur•ustaxbz.libsyn.com

The Tax-Savvy Expat Podcast helps American expats and digital nomads to (i) maximize the tax-reduction (and even tax-elimination) opportunities available by living abroad and (ii) avoid the pitfalls along the way. Stewart Patton, US tax attorney and expat entrepreneur, dives deep on a narrow topic in each episode, clearing away the myths and misconceptions to get to the real meat of the matter.

Last refreshed: August 18th, 2025 at 8:09 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

Episode 11: The Tax-Savvy Expat Entrepreneur Structure

This one gives away all the secrets! As a follow-up to the last episode (which discussed how US tax works for expat entrepreneurs), this episode discusses the exact legal structure through which my clients and course students operate their location-independent business. After this episode, you'll know all about: The exact legal structure you can use to save a ton of tax on your business income while traveling the globe; The best way to get started in getting this legal structure all set up; and ...

Feb 06, 2017•17 min

Episode 10: Putting it All Together 3 (Entrepreneurs)

In the final episode of the "Putting it All Together" series, we take a look at how US tax works for expat and digital nomad entrepreneurs (i.e., people who own a business that involves selling something other than their own services). After this episode, you'll know all about: Why every expat should consider being an entrepreneur and every entrepreneur should consider being an expat; How filing one piece of paper with the IRS can make a huge difference in the tax consequences of running your yo...

Jan 16, 2017•16 min

Episode 9: Putting it All Together 2 (Freelancers)

Continuing the "Putting it All Together" series, this episode looks at how US tax works for expat and digital nomad freelancers (i.e., people selling their own services to multiple clients). After this episode, you'll know all about: The similarities and differences between employees and freelancers; Why you can't use an offshore corporation to save on self-employment tax when you're a freelancer (despite what you may read on the internet); and The gender politics of 1920s America. Articles that...

Jan 06, 2017•17 min

Episode 8: Putting it All Together 1 (Employees)

In this episode and the next two, we'll put everything we've been discussing together and discuss how it applies in a specific scenario. This one's for employees, the next one's for freelancers, and the final one's for entrepreneurs. These three episodes are jam-packed with tips and tricks to make sure you fully understand your US tax situation and pay as little tax as possible. We'll flesh out many of the ideas discussed in these three episodes on future episodes of the podcast. After this epis...

Dec 28, 2016•24 min

Episode 7: Non-US Tax (Plus Expat v. Digital Nomad)

This episode covers how non-US tax applies to Americans living abroad. After this episode, you'll know all about: The three income tax systems used by countries around the world; Why US folks don't really have it as bad as folks from places like Canada, the UK, and Australia sometimes say we do; and The ways that "expats" and "digital nomads" are similar and different (and how that effects tax planning). Articles that discuss topics touched on in this episode: Meow Says the Dog: A US Tax Guy's T...

Dec 20, 2016•23 min

Episode 6: Beware the "Offshore Gurus"

This episode discusses why one purpose of this podcast is to "guide you safely past the snapping jaws of the offshore gurus." After this episode, you'll know all about: How to identify an offshore guru, The things an offshore guru can actually help you with, and The areas where you shouldn't look to an offshore guru for help. Articles that discuss topics touched on in this episode: Are you Looking for Tax Advice in all the Wrong Places? Expat Tax isn't Something you do Once a Year Send me your t...

Dec 15, 2016•17 min

Episode 5: Foreign Tax Credit

This episode covers everything you need to know about the foreign tax credit--that's the rule that allows you to reduce your US tax by the non-US tax you pay on the same income. After this episode, you'll know all about: How to make sure you don't pay double tax on the same item of income; The different ways of thinking about tax by digital nomads v. settled expats; and If you’re an expat with a business on the ground, why you need specific advice about how to classify your non-US legal entity f...

Dec 12, 2016•16 min

Episode 4: Foreign Housing Deduction/Exclusion

This episode covers the foreign housing deduction/exclusion. If you spend quite a bit on your housing expenses, and you make more than $100,000 from working, then you can use this expat tax benefit to knock out a bit more of your foreign earned income. After this episode, you'll know all about: How to use the foreign housing deduction/exclusion; What the heck the difference is anyway between a deduction and an exclusion; and The relative cost of living between Chiang Mai and Hong Kong (and why i...

Dec 07, 2016•13 min

Episode 3: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion 2

This episode covers the physical presence test and bona fide residence test. You must pass one of these two tests to qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion (and you only need to pass one--no bonus points for passing them both). After this episode, you'll know all about: Exactly how these two tests work; The difference between "a year" and "a 12-month period"; and Why sailors, astronauts, and Antarctic explorers don't get to take the foreign earned income exclusion. Articles that discuss...

Dec 02, 2016•20 min

Episode 2: Foreign Earned Income Exclusion 1

This episode covers the foreign earned income exclusion, which allows you to make up to about $100,000 per year from working without paying any US income tax. After this episode, you'll know all about: What exactly "foreign earned income" is, and why it's OK to work for a US employer; How the "tax home test" works, and why it doesn't require you to pay tax outside the US. Articles that discuss topics touched on in this episode: Tax and Finance for Digital Nomads 9 Tax To-Dos for the New Expat Re...

Nov 28, 2016•19 min

Episode 1: Get in on the Ground Floor!

Welcome to the very first episode of the podcast, and thanks for jumping in on the ground floor. This episode first covers some general goals/features of the podcast as a whole, and then I discuss my background a bit. We then dive right into the basics of US tax for Americans living abroad. After this episode, you'll know all about: The emotional/psychological effects of Chicago weather; The behavior modification effects of my wife in a bikini; and What expat tax has in common with camels and ag...

Nov 27, 2016•16 min

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