U.S. and Ukrainian taxes, prepared to agree
Many Ukrainians arrived in the U.S. in recent years — some on humanitarian parole, some on work visas, some as new permanent residents — often keeping accounts, property, and businesses at home. The first U.S. years are where residency timing, Ukrainian income, and reporting of foreign accounts get decided.
Who this is for
Ukrainians in their first U.S. years on parole, visas, or new residency
Americans with Ukrainian income, property, or family businesses
Owners of a Ukrainian company with U.S. ties, or a U.S. company owned from Ukraine
Remote workers paid from one country while living in the other
Where these files go wrong
- 01
The first-year residency date set wrong, pulling Ukrainian income into U.S. tax that didn’t need to be
- 02
Ukrainian bank and brokerage accounts left off FBAR and Form 8938
- 03
A Ukrainian company owned by a U.S. resident with no Form 5471
- 04
Income from Ukrainian clients treated as “foreign” when the work was done in the U.S.
- 05
Treaty positions never filed, so the same income is taxed twice
Working between the U.S. and Ukraine
On the U.S. side
- Residency startResidency start date and dual-status first year
- TreatyU.S.–Ukraine income tax treaty positions where they help
- CreditsForeign tax credit for Ukrainian income tax
- ReportingReporting of Ukrainian accounts and companies
On the Ukrainian side
- ResidencyWorldwide taxation for Ukrainian tax residents
- Living abroadResidency questions for those abroad long-term
- Social securityNo totalization agreement with the U.S.
- Local filingLocal filing by a Ukrainian adviser, coordinated with ours
General orientation, not advice — confirmed for your facts in the engagement.
What we handle, start to finish
U.S. returns for expats and new residents
Forms 1040 and 1040-NR, dual-status years, foreign earned income exclusion (Form 2555), foreign tax credit (Form 1116)
Foreign account and asset reporting
FBAR (FinCEN 114) and Form 8938
Foreign company and partnership reporting
Forms 5471, 5472, 8858, and 8865
Treaty positions
Form 8833 and withholding coordination, where a treaty exists
Foreign trusts, pensions, and funds
Forms 3520 and 3520-A, PFIC analysis (Form 8621)
Catch-up filings
The Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for people who didn’t know they had to file
U.S. taxpayer numbers and real estate
Coordination with the foreign return
Whoever prepares the other country’s return, we make sure credits, dates, and positions match before either is filed
Three kinds of returns. One team that makes them agree.
We handle U.S. domestic returns, cross-border (U.S.–Canada) returns, and international tax returns. When a case calls for deeper expertise — in any country — we bring in hand-picked specialists who work under our lead. One team, one point of contact, one plan — and returns that agree.
- You know who is working on your file
- One plan and one price, quoted in writing
- Both returns reviewed together before anything is filed
How your file is staffed
- U.S. domestic returnsour U.S. Tax Desk
- Cross-border (U.S.–Canada)our U.S. and Canadian Tax Desks, together
- Internationalhand-picked country specialists, under our lead
- Your single point of contactFairlight
From first call to filed, on both sides
A free fit call
Fifteen minutes. Which countries, which years, what’s been filed. We tell you honestly what’s needed and whether we can coordinate the foreign side.
A written scope and price
The U.S. work and the coordination, quoted in writing before anything starts. No hourly meter.
Both sides prepared together
Each return is prepared with the same facts, and credits, dates, and positions are matched before either is filed.
Filed, and on a schedule
Both returns filed, deadlines tracked, and the next year planned — not just the one behind you.
U.S.–Ukraine tax, up front
Is there a tax treaty between the U.S. and Ukraine?
Yes. It supports credits and determines taxing rights on certain income; benefits must be claimed on the return.
When does my U.S. tax residency start?
It depends on your status and days present. Getting the start date right determines which Ukrainian income is in and which is out — we settle it before anything is filed.
I work remotely for a Ukrainian company from the U.S. Where is that taxed?
Work performed in the U.S. is U.S.-source income regardless of where the employer sits. We coordinate what Ukraine taxes so credits line up.
My accounts are in Ukraine. Do I report them?
If the combined value crosses the thresholds, yes — FBAR and possibly Form 8938. The penalties for missing them are steep, so this is where we start.
What does it cost?
It depends on the countries, the years, and the forms involved, so we quote it in writing after a short call — fixed, before any work begins. No hourly meter and no surprise add-ons.
How do we get started?
Book a free 15-minute fit call. Bring your last filed returns if you have them; if you don’t, book anyway.
An American living outside the U.S.? See U.S. expat returns for the filing rules that apply wherever you live, or all international tax.
Read our guide: U.S. Taxes for Ukrainians in the U.S. and Ukrainian Ties →
Ties to Ukraine? Start here.
A free 15-minute call, then a written scope and price. No payment until after.
The content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax advice. International tax requirements depend on individual facts and circumstances and are subject to change. Foreign-country rules summarized here are general and change; your situation is confirmed in the engagement. See our full legal disclaimer.