Banks worldwide may request proof of compliance with U.S. taxes from U.S. expats. For example, a bank may send a FATCA letter to a client, seeking specific information about their U.S. tax status and possibly requesting them to complete either the W-9 or W-8 Form.

At TFX, we offer the service of preparing a letter called the U.S. Paid Preparer Certification and Notification. This letter confirms that we are either prepared or in the process of preparing U.S. tax returns for the client. Such a letter provides clients with additional time to ensure their U.S. taxes are in order, thereby preventing the potential freezing of their bank accounts. Typically, banks grant a 45-day extension upon receiving this letter.

Note: the deliverable of the letter remains the same whether it is sent to a bank or a lawyer.

The cost for this service is $150, and the letter will be provided to the client as a PDF email attachment. Please note that we no longer send physical copies of such letters to clients. For pricing information, please refer to our non-flat fees list (look for "TFX Letter to Third Parties").

Let your tax preparer know if you require TFX to prepare this letter on our official letterhead.