Your 2026 Compliance Checklist
Every form, threshold, and deadline a US expat, dual citizen, or SRRV retiree in the Philippines needs to track this year. Bookmark this page and review it each January.
1. Confirm Your Filing Requirement
File Form 1040 if worldwide gross income exceeds roughly $14,600 ($400 if self-employed), including dual citizens who've never filed before.
2. Claim the FEIE (Form 2555)
Shield up to $132,900 of earned income. Confirm you qualify via the Physical Presence Test or Bona Fide Residence Test, and track any US travel carefully.
3. File FBAR If You Cross $10,000 (FinCEN Form 114)
Aggregate all Philippine accounts, including your SRRV deposit if applicable. File by April 15 (automatic extension to October 15).
4. Check FATCA Reporting (Form 8938)
Applies at higher thresholds than FBAR, generally $200,000+ for single filers abroad ($400,000+ married filing jointly).
5. Confirm Self-Employment Tax Exposure
If you're a contractor or freelancer, budget for the full 15.3% self-employment tax since there's no Totalization Agreement to offset it.
6. Verify Dual-Citizen Filing History
If you're a dual citizen who's never filed, use Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures proactively rather than waiting.
7. Check FIRB-Equivalent Rules Before Buying a Condo
Confirm a condo project's foreign ownership cap (40% maximum) hasn't already been reached before signing a reservation agreement.
8. Review State Domicile Status
Confirm whether your prior US state still considers you a resident for state tax purposes, particularly if you're from California, Virginia, New Mexico, or South Carolina.
9. Confirm BIR Residency Classification
Determine whether you're a nonresident alien, nonresident citizen, or resident for Philippine tax purposes, this affects whether foreign-sourced income is taxed locally.
10. Track SRRV Deposit Reporting If Applicable
Confirm the SRRV deposit account is included in FBAR/FATCA reporting each year, it's easy to overlook since it's framed as a visa requirement.
11. Verify Beneficiary Designations on US Accounts
Confirm 401(k), IRA, and life insurance beneficiary designations are current, especially relevant with Filipino family potentially inheriting.