Washington, DC Exit Tax Lawyer

Are you looking for an exit tax lawyer in Washington, DC?

At Calvary International Law PLLC, we help clients plan for the exit tax well before they give up citizenship or residency.

If you are thinking about giving up U.S. citizenship, or a green card you have held for years, the tax that applies on the way out can reach your worldwide assets before you go. Our Washington, DC exit tax lawyer can tell you whether the exit tax will apply to you and plan the steps that reduce it. We look at your assets, your tax history, and your timing, then build a path that fits your goals. Calvary International Law PLLC works with U.S. citizens and long-term residents who are leaving the U.S. tax system. Contact our office before you take any formal step.

Exit Tax Lawyer Washington, DC

The exit tax is a federal tax that can apply when certain U.S. citizens give up their citizenship, or when long-term green-card holders give up their residency. It is meant to tax the gains you have built up while inside the U.S. system before you leave it. Whether it applies to you, and how much it costs, depends on your finances and your tax history.

Washington, DC consistently ranks among the wealthiest jurisdictions in the country by household income, according to Census Bureau data. The exit tax most often reaches people with significant assets, which makes advance planning valuable for many District residents. A Washington, DC exit tax attorney can tell you where you stand and what to do about it.

Types of Exit Tax Matters We Handle in Washington, DC

An exit tax matter is rarely just about one form. It reaches your assets, your foreign accounts, your estate plan, and your tax compliance for the years before you leave. These are the matters we handle for clients preparing to expatriate. Each one can affect the tax, so we handle them together.

• Expatriation planning. We map out the tax and immigration steps of giving up citizenship or a green card, and the order to take them in. Sequence often changes the result, so we flag the consular and immigration steps that must happen in a set order.
• Covered-expatriate review. We determine whether the exit tax applies to you before you commit to anything. The answer depends on your assets and your filing history, and knowing it early prevents costly surprises.
• Pre-expatriation tax compliance. We bring prior filings current, because gaps can change whether the tax applies. This step usually comes first, and it can be the difference between owing the tax and avoiding it. We also help you gather the records you will need to support it.
• Offshore banking. We resolve and disclose foreign accounts, which almost always come up in an expatriation. Unreported accounts have to be addressed before you leave, and we coordinate the disclosures so they do not derail your plans. This is often the most time-consuming part of getting ready to go.
• Expat estate planning. We revise your estate plan for life outside the U.S. system. Your old documents may no longer fit your new residency, and foreign law may treat a will or trust differently than U.S. law does.
• Post-expatriation reporting. We handle the filings that continue after you have left. Some obligations do not end on the day you renounce, and we make sure the remaining filings are done correctly and on time.

Why Choose Calvary International Law PLLC as My Exit Tax Lawyer in Washington, DC?

Planning the Exit Tax in Advance

Our founder, Yonathan Amselem, has practiced since 2014 with a focus on international tax, expatriation, and cross-border planning. He advises U.S. citizens and long-term residents on the tax consequences of leaving the U.S. system. He is admitted to the District of Columbia Bar, earned his law degree at the University of Miami School of Law, and is bilingual in English and Spanish, which helps clients whose ties reach more than one country. He has also volunteered with USAID humanitarian relief efforts.

Coordinated International Tax Guidance

The exit tax is one piece of a larger tax picture. Our international tax planning lawyer in Washington, DC handles the reporting, treaties, and cross-border questions that come with leaving the U.S. system, so nothing is missed. We keep the departure, the tax, and the reporting on a single track. That coordination is where most avoidable exit tax problems are prevented.

Understanding Exit Tax Cases

Who the Exit Tax Applies To

The exit tax reaches two groups: U.S. citizens who give up their citizenship, and long-term green-card holders who give up their residency. Not everyone in these groups owes it. Whether you do depends on your assets, your past tax filings, and your compliance history. The rules also treat citizens and green-card holders somewhat differently.

The tax is meant to settle up on the gains you built while inside the U.S. system, before you leave it. Because so much depends on your particular numbers, the only way to know where you stand is to have someone review your situation in detail. Small differences in timing or asset values can move the result significantly.

What Should You Bring to Your Exit Tax Consultation?

A useful first meeting starts with a full picture of what you own and what you have filed. Please gather the following:

• A list of your assets and their approximate values, wherever they are located.
• Your U.S. tax returns for the past several years.
• Records of any foreign accounts, trusts, or entities.
• Your immigration history, including how long you have held a green card if that applies.
• Your timeline and your reasons for leaving the U.S. system.

We will tell you early whether the exit tax is likely to apply to you, and what can still be done about it.

What Are Important Aspects of an Exit Tax Case?

An exit tax case depends on preparation and timing more than anything else. The following points carry the most weight:

• Timing. Steps taken before you expatriate can change the outcome; steps taken after usually cannot.
• Compliance. Gaps in past filings can affect whether the tax applies, so we address them first.
• Valuation. The tax looks at what your assets are worth, so accurate values matter, especially for a business or trusts.
• Coordination. Expatriation is a reason to update your estate plan, review any asset protection you have in place, and revisit estate and gift tax exposure.

What Is the Exit Tax Case Timeline?

Most exit tax matters take months, not weeks, because compliance and valuation take time. A typical path looks like this:

1. Review of your assets, filings, and goals.
2. A determination of whether the exit tax will apply to you.
3. Cleanup of any past tax compliance issues.
4. Planning to reduce the tax where the law allows.
5. The formal expatriation step and the final filings that follow.

Washington, D.C. and Federal Resources

Expatriation involves two federal processes run by agencies based in the Washington, DC area. The renunciation itself goes through the U.S. Department of State, which explains the steps to relinquish U.S. nationality. The tax side goes through the IRS, which publishes the exit tax form expatriates file, separate relief procedures for those who fell behind, and rules for FATCA reporting of foreign assets. Renouncing citizenship does not end U.S. tax obligations on its own, which is why the planning matters.

Reach Out to Calvary International Law PLLC to Schedule a Consultation

The exit tax is far easier to manage before you renounce than after. Speak with us while you are still deciding, and we will tell you whether it applies and how to lower it. Contact us to arrange a consultation with our Washington, DC exit tax lawyer. Calvary International Law PLLC works with citizens and long-term residents throughout the District who are planning their departure.

Exit Tax Statistics in Washington, DC

Neither the IRS nor the District publishes a count of exit tax filings by city, so federal figures are the best available measure. The expatriation tax rules reach two groups: U.S. citizens who renounce, and green-card holders who give up residency after holding it long enough to count as long-term residents. Washington is home to embassies, international organizations, and multinational employers, so both groups live and work here.

• The Department of Homeland Security estimated that 12.8 million green-card holders lived in the United States as of January 2024.
• The Federal Voting Assistance Program estimated that 3 million U.S. citizens of voting age lived abroad in 2016.
• That study identified Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, France, and Japan as the countries with the largest numbers of voting-age U.S. citizens.
• The IRS publishes the names of people who expatriate four times a year, and the most recent quarterly list covers the quarter that ended June 30, 2026.

These numbers describe who could face the tax. They do not show who owes it. That answer turns on one person’s assets and filing history, which is why our Washington, DC exit tax attorney reviews both before any formal step is taken. The quarterly list matters for another reason. An expatriation becomes a public record, so the planning should be finished before your name appears.

Questions to Ask an Exit Tax Lawyer in Washington, DC Before Hiring

1. How much of your practice involves expatriation? Exit tax work is a narrow field. An attorney who handles it only occasionally may miss how the tax, immigration, and reporting steps depend on one another. Our founder has focused on international tax and expatriation planning for more than 12 years.
2. Will you determine my status before I commit to anything? The first task is finding out whether you would be treated as a covered expatriate. You should have that answer in writing before you book a consular appointment.
3. Who will do the work? Ask whether the attorney you meet is the one who reviews your returns and runs the numbers. At Calvary International Law PLLC, Yonathan Amselem represents each client directly.
4. How do you coordinate with my CPA and my advisors abroad? An expatriation involves accountants, appraisers, and often lawyers in the country you are moving to. We work with CPAs, foreign trustees, and local co-counsel so that you receive an implemented plan and not only a written opinion.
5. How are your fees structured? A flat fee tells you the cost before work begins. Hourly billing on a matter that runs for months is harder to budget. Nearly all of our engagements are flat fee.
6. What happens to my trusts, my business, and my retirement accounts? Different kinds of assets are treated differently when you leave. A Washington exit tax lawyer should explain how each one is handled and whether an offshore trust or an existing asset protection structure needs attention first.
7. What will my family in the United States face after I leave? Gifts and inheritances that you later leave to U.S. relatives can carry a separate tax cost for them. We review cross-border estate planning alongside the exit tax for that reason.
8. Can you help if I am behind on filings? Past-due returns and unreported foreign accounts are common. Many can be corrected. The order of the corrections matters, and it should be set before anything is filed.
9. What continues after the expatriation date? Some filings continue after you renounce. Ask who prepares them and how long the firm stays involved.
10. Do you advise people who later return? Some former residents come back. A return to the U.S. tax system calls for pre-immigration tax planning of its own, and an exit tax attorney should be able to advise in both directions.

Washington, DC Exit Tax Lawyer FAQs

How Much Does an Exit Tax Lawyer in Washington, DC Cost?

The cost depends on the number of assets, the countries involved, and the condition of your past filings. A client with one brokerage account and clean returns will pay less than a client with a foreign company, a trust, and several years of missing reports. Calvary International Law PLLC structures nearly all engagements as flat fees. We quote the fee after the initial review, so you know the price before we begin.

Does Calvary International Law PLLC Offer Free Consultations?

Yes, the first consultation is free. We use it to learn what you own, where you plan to live, and how soon you want to act. You’ll leave knowing whether the exit tax is a real concern for you. There is no obligation to hire us afterward.

Can I Renounce My Citizenship in Washington?

You cannot renounce here. Renunciation takes place outside the United States, in person, before a U.S. consular or diplomatic officer. The planning, the valuations, and the tax filings can all be prepared from Washington beforehand. Our job is to make sure nothing is left undone when you walk into that appointment.

Does the Exit Tax Apply to Green-Card Holders?

It can. Long-term permanent residents who give up their status are treated much like citizens who renounce. A resident can end that status voluntarily by filing Form I-407 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and the timing of that filing affects the tax result.

When Should I Hire an Exit Tax Attorney?

You should hire one before you take any formal step. The available options narrow once the expatriation date is fixed. A year of lead time is not excessive when past returns need correcting or a business needs to be valued.

Will I Still File U.S. Tax Returns After I Expatriate?

Most people file a return for the year they leave, along with the expatriation statement. Further U.S. filings may be required if you keep U.S. income, property, or business interests. We tell you which filings will continue, and for how long, before you leave.

Does the District Have Its Own Exit Tax?

The District does not impose a separate exit tax. District residents do need to file a final D.C. income tax return for the year they move, and the Office of Tax and Revenue processes it. We coordinate that return with the federal filings so the dates match.

What Happens to My Estate Plan When I Leave?

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives written for a U.S. resident may not work as intended once you live abroad. We review each document against the law of your new country. Property that stays in the United States may still need a U.S. document.

Can the Exit Tax Be Reduced?

It often can, when the work starts early. Lawful options include correcting past filings, choosing the expatriation date carefully, obtaining defensible valuations, and making gifts where appropriate. These options close once you expatriate.

Do You Work With Clients Who Already Live Abroad?

Yes, we do. People who expatriate have often lived overseas for years. Our Washington expatriation tax attorney advises clients wherever they live and coordinates with advisors in the country of residence as part of our cross-border practice.

Important Resources for Washington, DC Exit Tax Cases

Washington, DC Federal and District Tax Offices

An expatriation that begins in Washington runs through three sets of offices. The IRS, headquartered at 1111 Constitution Avenue NW, administers the expatriation statement and the final federal returns. The State Department handles loss of citizenship, although the oath itself is taken at an embassy or consulate abroad. District residents have one more stop. The Office of Tax and Revenue at 1101 4th Street SW processes the final D.C. income tax return.

What Are Important Local Resources for Washington, DC Exit Tax Matters?

The offices below answer account questions that come up while returns are being brought current.

• The Office of Tax and Revenue runs the OTR Customer Service Center, which answers District income tax questions at (202) 727-4829.
• The IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at 77 K Street NE sees taxpayers by appointment, and appointments are scheduled at (844) 545-5640.
• The Taxpayer Advocate Service office for the District helps with unresolved IRS account problems at (202) 803-9800.

Calvary International Law PLLC lists these offices for convenience only. We do not endorse them, and they do not endorse our firm.

About Calvary International Law PLLC

Calvary International Law PLLC was founded by Yonathan Amselem to give individuals, families, and business owners direct access to senior international counsel. He holds a B.A. from Florida International University. Our work is structure-first, and every engagement starts with an analysis of the client’s assets, jurisdictional exposure, and long-term goals.

In one matter, we designed a unified protection and succession plan for a married couple with more than $80 million in combined assets, including real estate in several states, an operating company, and roughly $30 million in securities.

Additional Resources for Washington, DC Exit Tax Cases

• Beneficiary Designations And What You Need to Know
• Last Will and Testament in Washington DC
• Charitable Giving and Estate Planning
• Business Succession Planning in Washington DC

Contact Calvary International Law PLLC

Speak with a Washington, DC exit tax lawyer before you schedule a renunciation appointment or surrender a green card. Your first consultation with Calvary International Law PLLC is free. During that meeting, we review your assets, your filing history, and your timeline, and we tell you whether the exit tax is likely to apply. Nearly all of our engagements are billed as flat fees, and we quote the fee before any work begins. Contact us to schedule a time with our exit tax attorney in Washington.