2 - The Swiss-US Tax Mistakes Nobody Warns You About with Darlene Hart

The One Where Your Advisors Aren't Talking to Each Other
You've got your people. But are your people talking to each other? In this episode, Julia Tatje and Darlene Hart reveal the cross-border tax blunders quietly costing Americans in Switzerland, Swiss nationals with US investments, and green card holders who think they've escaped the IRS. Spoiler: you haven't.

In This Episode

• Why your Swiss tax return and your US CPA should never be strangers

• Green card holders: the IRS follows you everywhere - yes, even Zurich

• Pillar 3A for Americans: saving Swiss tax while unknowingly owing US tax

• The FBAR trap hiding in your joint credit card

• 401(k)s, IRAs & Swiss pensions - the treaty rules that change everything

• US estate tax for Swiss nationals who've never lived in America (it's real, and it's fixable)

The Bottom Line

Americans & green card holders in Switzerland: You owe US tax on worldwide income. Full stop. Your Pillar 3A won't save you. Your IRA can stay invested - even in Swiss francs -so don't touch it.

Swiss nationals & foreign investors: Owning US stocks personally? Your heirs may face a US estate tax bill. A simple holding structure fixes this before it becomes their problem.

Everyone: Get your advisors in the same room. Most of these disasters were entirely avoidable.

Your Hosts

Julia Tatje - Swiss tax specialist for foreign nationals in Switzerland.
Darlene Hart - US expatriate tax expert, treaty planning, FBAR & cross-border estates. Based in Switzerland.
Together: the Swiss-US tax duo you didn't know you needed.

Listen and Connect

→ Website: taxum.ch
→ LinkedIn: Julia Tatje - linkedin.com/in/julia-tatje
→ Blog "Tax and the City": taxum.ch/blog
→ Podcast "Tax and the City": youtube.com/@taxandthe_city?si=YE6SgrVTCu4pBUsc

→ Contact Julia: taxum.ch/kontakt
→ Contact Darlene: ustaxfs.com/contacts-ustaxfs

This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Always consult a qualified tax professional regarding your individual situation.