For Americans living in Switzerland
PFIC funds, FBAR, pillar 3a, US filing from Zurich or Geneva — the rules are strict, but every one of them has a workable path. We explain it in plain English and answer your first question free: by email, phone or WhatsApp call.
Swiss (+41) or US (+1) number — or just email. No appointment needed to start.
None of these are unsolvable. But each one punishes guessing — and rewards understanding the rules before you act.
Your Swiss colleagues buy a fund at their bank and move on with their lives. You can’t — to the IRS, most Swiss funds are PFICs, taxed punitively with brutal paperwork. There are clean ways to invest as a US person in Switzerland. Knowing them before you buy is what matters.
Ask about thisPillar 2 and pillar 3a make sense in the Swiss system — but the IRS doesn’t treat them the way Switzerland does. “Just skip 3a, it’s a trap” is the standard forum answer; the real answer depends on your tax bracket, your employer match and your plans. It deserves better than a rule of thumb.
Ask about thisTurned away by a bank for your passport. An FBAR deadline you learned about years too late. A FATCA letter that reads like an accusation. Frustrating — and manageable, once you know what’s actually required of you and what isn’t. Most horror stories come from not knowing the rules.
Ask about thisFEIE or foreign tax credit? Which deadlines actually apply abroad? And what if you’ve missed years — do you really owe back taxes on a life you already paid Swiss taxes on? US filing from Switzerland follows clear patterns, and there is a constructive path forward from almost any starting point.
Ask about thisBuying property, marrying a non-American, retiring in Switzerland vs. the US, even renouncing citizenship: each is a one-time decision with two tax systems attached. These deserve a clear picture before you commit — not after.
Ask about thisIf it involves being American and having money in Switzerland, it's our territory. Start with one question — the first answer is free.
Ask us01
Our insights explain the problems and the decision landscape in plain English — what the rules are, where the traps sit, and which directions a solution can take.
02
Most readers finish an article knowing exactly which question applies to them. The concrete steps depend on your income, accounts, pension and plans.
03
Start with one question by email, or choose a callback if talking it through is easier. Either way, you get a useful first answer without committing to a service.
Why we understand both sides: US Expat Wealth was founded by Chris Jon Graf — half Swiss, half American, with a father from Denver, Colorado. Living inside both systems isn't a case study for us; it's the family biography. That's the perspective everything on this site is written from.
You can claim the US Child Tax Credit while living in Switzerland, but choosing the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion often wipes out the refundable part—up to $1,700 per child. Filing the Foreign Tax Credit instead usually preserves it. Here's how the credits work and how to claim them.
If you live in Switzerland and expect to owe the IRS at least $1,000 after withholding, you generally need to make quarterly estimated payments. The expat filing extension does not move the April 15 payment deadline. Safe harbor rules can prevent penalties; payments from Switzerland work via US bank transfer, card, or international wire.
Switzerland has no federal wealth tax. Instead, your canton and commune tax your worldwide net assets every year, and the US gives no foreign tax credit for it. Rates vary roughly sevenfold, so the canton you choose can mean a five-figure annual difference.
Start with one question
Ask by email with no phone number or appointment, or let us call you — on a regular line or via WhatsApp, on your Swiss or US number. We'll take the time to understand your question about money, taxes or retirement as an American in Switzerland.
