Where to Find US Tax Help in Japan: Firms and EAs Serving Americans Abroad

2026-07-09

Last reviewed: July 9, 2026. This article reflects current IRS rules and EA exam requirements as of this date.

If you're an American living in Japan, you need a preparer who understands yen income, FEIE optimization, and the US-Japan tax treaty. Here's who does this work and how to find them.

The Firms

Copper River Tax

Military-focused with special pricing for service members and their families
Serves US bases across Japan
Handles FEIE, Foreign Tax Credit, FBAR, and FATCA for military and civilian expats

ExpatTax Japan

Long-established US tax preparation service in Japan
IRS Certified Acceptance Agent — can help with ITIN applications
Serves Tokyo, Yokohama, and the broader expat community

ATMT CPA Firm

Bilingual Japanese-English tax professionals
US expat individual returns plus Japanese tax coordination through partner firms
Specialized in Japan-US dual filing situations

ExpatTax Advisory

IRS Certified Acceptance Agent
Partners with local Japanese tax firms for coordinated dual-country filing
Military taxation services at reduced pricing

Online Expat Services (Greenback, MyExpatTaxes, TFX)

All serve Americans in Japan remotely
Better for straightforward returns (W-2 income, FEIE, standard FBAR)
Less useful for complex US-Japan issues like inheritance tax treaty positions

What to Ask Before You Hire

"Do you understand the FEIE vs FTC decision for Japan?" Japan has high income tax rates plus residence tax plus national health insurance premiums. The Foreign Tax Credit on Form 1116 is often the better election over the FEIE because Japanese taxes frequently exceed US tax liability. A preparer who defaults to the FEIE without analyzing the election is costing you money.

"Are you familiar with the US-Japan tax treaty?" The US-Japan income tax treaty and the separate estate and gift tax treaty both apply. The estate treaty is critical for Americans with Japanese spouses or assets — Japan's inheritance tax system operates differently from the US estate tax. Ask if they've handled treaty-based estate planning for US-Japan couples.

"How do you handle yen income for FBAR and FEIE?" The IRS publishes yearly average exchange rates. Using the wrong rate or the wrong conversion method affects your FEIE eligibility, your FBAR reporting thresholds, and your Form 8938 FATCA reporting. A preparer who has to look up the procedure for converting yen to dollars is learning on your return.

"Are you listed in the IRS Acceptance Agents directory for Japan?" Check the IRS Acceptance Agents - Japan page. Being listed means they've been approved by the IRS to verify identity documents for ITIN applications and serve Americans in Japan. It's a signal of legitimacy, not a guarantee of quality — but an unlisted preparer claiming Japan expertise should explain why they're not on the list.

"Are you listed in the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers?" Every legitimate EA or CPA with a PTIN is in the IRS preparer directory. If they're not there, they shouldn't be preparing your return.

Red Flags

They don't know what the IRS yearly average exchange rate is
They've never heard of the Japan estate and gift tax treaty
They default to the FEIE without analyzing the FTC election
They don't understand Japanese National Health Insurance and its US tax treatment
They quote a price under $300 for a full US-Japan expat return

If You Want to Become the EA Japan Needs

The supply of US-credentialed tax professionals in Japan is thin. The IRS Acceptance Agent directory for Japan lists only a handful of practitioners. The military base communities need preparers. The Tokyo expat professional community needs preparers. Japanese accounting firms with US-connected clients need US-credentialed partners.

The EA credential is the fastest way to build US-side tax authority. Pass three exams. Get your PTIN. You can prepare returns for Americans in Japan from anywhere in Japan — or from anywhere in the world.

Start studying for the EA →