Where to Find a US Tax EA in China
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026. This article reflects current IRS rules and EA exam requirements as of this date.
Americans in China need a preparer who files US returns and understands the Chinese tax system. Those two things overlap less than you'd expect.
Here's who does this work, what to ask, and how to find them.
Expat-focused US tax firms serving China
Several US firms serve Americans in China. They operate remotely. Client portal, email, video calls. You don't need someone physically in Shanghai to file your US return.
Greenback Expat Tax Services has a comprehensive China country guide and prepares returns for Americans across major Chinese cities. They offer flat-fee pricing and pair filers with preparers who handle China-sourced income.
Taxes for Expats covers China through their general expat tax preparation service. Their preparer network includes EAs and CPAs who file returns involving Chinese IIT, the six-year rule analysis, and FBAR reporting for Chinese bank accounts.
Bright!Tax has China-specific guidance and serves Americans throughout mainland China. They're one of the larger dedicated expat tax firms and have processed returns involving Chinese-source income for years.
H&R Block Expat Tax Services operates an online platform that connects Americans abroad with preparers. Their China coverage is through the general expat service. you'll be paired with someone who handles international returns. Confirm they have China-specific experience before engaging.
MS Advisory is a Shanghai-based firm that provides both US and China tax services. They're one of the few firms with a physical presence in China and direct experience with both the IRS and the State Taxation Administration. Their US tax team can handle complex cross-border returns involving WFOEs, six-year rule analysis, and FTC planning.
Dezan Shira & Associates has offices across China and offers US tax compliance through their international tax practice. They're better known for corporate services but handle individual expat returns for executives and business owners.
What to ask a China tax preparer before hiring
China-specific competence is not the same as general expat competence. Ask these questions.
Do you understand the six-year rule? This is the acid test. If the preparer doesn't know what the six-year rule is. or confuses it with the 183-day residency test. they don't understand Chinese tax. A correct answer references the 2019 reset, the six-consecutive-year threshold for worldwide income taxation after 2019, and the 30-day reset trigger. If they can't explain this in their own words, keep looking.
How do you handle Chinese IIT for US foreign tax credit purposes? Chinese IIT is withheld monthly by employers and reconciled annually through a process called "annual settlement." The preparer needs to know which IIT payments map to which FTC basket (general limitation versus passive), how to convert yuan-denominated payments to USD using the appropriate IRS exchange rate, and how to handle excess FTC carryforwards when Chinese tax rates exceed US rates.
Do you know which Chinese social insurance contributions are mandatory for foreigners? The answer varies by city. Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou. different rules, different rates. The employer portion and employee portion have different US tax treatment. A preparer who says "I'll look it up" for every city is someone who hasn't filed enough China returns to have the rules internalized.
Have you handled a WFOE or Chinese company ownership situation? If the American owns part or all of a Chinese entity, the preparer needs to understand entity classification, CFC rules, Form 5471 filing requirements, GILTI, and how Chinese IIT paid on distributions from the entity interacts with the FTC. This is the deep end. Many preparers who handle straightforward expat returns will tell you they can handle entity ownership. Ask for a specific example of a return they've done involving Chinese entity ownership.
Can you handle streamlined compliance for China-based filers? Many Americans in China stopped filing during COVID or never started. The Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures require three years of returns, six years of FBARs, and Form 14653. Chinese income documentation. employment contracts, IIT withholding statements, bank statements. has to be assembled, translated if necessary, and correctly reflected on the US returns. The exchange rates for each year have to be correct. The six-year rule analysis has to be documented for each of the three years.
The IRS preparer directory
The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers lets you search by credential type and location. Filter for Enrolled Agents. You won't find many listing China as a physical location. You will find some listing international or expat services. Contact them and ask the questions above.
A smaller number of EAs and CPAs are physically located in China, typically in Shanghai and Beijing, serving the expat and business communities. They're harder to find through directories because their IRS registration may list a US address. They're easier to find through expat networks, chambers of commerce, and word of mouth.
What it costs
China returns cluster at two price points. A straightforward return. W-2 equivalent from a Chinese employer who handles IIT withholding, one Chinese bank account for FBAR, FEIE claimed. runs $400 to $800. A complex return. entity ownership, PFIC analysis, FTC with excess credits, multi-city social insurance, six-year rule documentation. can run $1,500 to $4,000 or more.
Streamlined compliance for three years of unfiled returns typically starts around $1,500 to $3,000. The complexity varies enormously depending on income sources, Chinese IIT payment history, and whether entity ownership is involved.
Get a fixed-fee quote in writing. The preparer who charges $300 for something another quotes at $1,500 is either very efficient or doesn't understand what they're taking on.
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