U.S. Tax Responsibilities
Understand the financial planning implications of U.S. taxation while living abroad.
MRA Advisory Group / International Wealth Planning
Your Financial Life Doesn’t Stop at the U.S. Border.
A Comprehensive Financial Planning Guide for Americans Living in Brazil.
Living in Brazil can bring exciting opportunities—and important financial questions. From U.S. tax obligations and retirement accounts to investment management, currency exposure, estate planning, and family protection, decisions made in one country can affect your financial future in another. Discover the key considerations every American living in Brazil should understand.
Taxes • Investments • Retirement • Estate Planning
Why This Guide Matters
Two Countries. One Financial Future.
Moving to Brazil does not automatically eliminate U.S. financial responsibilities. American citizens generally remain subject to U.S. tax reporting requirements even while living abroad. Brazilian tax residency may create additional obligations, and financial decisions involving investments, retirement income, property, or family wealth can have consequences in both jurisdictions. Understanding these connections is essential to building a coordinated financial plan.
Investments Across Borders
Learn why account access, investment selection, and currency exposure deserve special attention.
Retirement Income Planning
Explore how Social Security, IRAs, pensions, and investment withdrawals may support retirement in Brazil.
Protecting Your Family and Legacy
Identify important estate planning, beneficiary, insurance, and inheritance considerations.
What’s Inside the Guide
A Comprehensive Guide to Your Financial Life in Brazil.
Explore the essential topics Americans should consider before moving to Brazil and throughout their lives abroad.
Establishing Your Financial Life in Brazil
Preparing financially for relocation, banking and account access, building an international emergency reserve, managing expenses in Brazilian reais, and understanding exchange-rate exposure.
U.S. and Brazilian Tax Considerations
U.S. citizenship-based taxation, Brazilian tax residency, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit, FBAR and FATCA reporting, potential PFIC complications, and coordinating U.S. and Brazilian tax professionals.
Managing U.S. Investments While Living Abroad
Maintaining appropriate access to U.S. brokerage accounts, investment allocation and risk management, currency diversification, investment income tax considerations, and account restrictions affecting expatriates.
Retirement Planning in Brazil
Social Security benefits, Traditional and Roth IRAs, employer retirement plans, Required Minimum Distributions, withdrawal strategies, the U.S.–Brazil Social Security Totalization Agreement, and planning retirement spending in two currencies.
International Estate Planning
U.S. estate tax considerations, citizenship versus estate-tax domicile, estate tax exposure for certain non-U.S.-citizen spouses, cross-border inheritance, beneficiary designations, and powers of attorney.
Insurance and Family Protection
Health insurance considerations in Brazil, life insurance planning, disability protection, long-term care considerations, and family financial protection.
Property and Business Ownership
Buying property in Brazil, owning property in the United States, rental income considerations, U.S. business ownership while abroad, and planning considerations for entrepreneurs.
Your Cross-Border Financial Planning Checklist
What to review before moving, during the first year, annually, at retirement milestones, during estate planning reviews, and when coordinating financial professionals.
TAXES
INVESTMENTS
RETIREMENT
ESTATE PLANNING
FAMILY GOALS
Every financial decision is connected.
Cross-Border Tax Complexity
Living Abroad Doesn’t Mean Leaving U.S. Tax Responsibilities Behind.
Americans living in Brazil may need to coordinate financial reporting and tax obligations in both countries. Understanding the interaction between U.S. tax requirements, Brazilian tax residency, foreign investments, retirement income, and international reporting obligations can help identify issues before they become costly. The guide introduces key planning considerations and explains why coordination between qualified professionals is important.
United States
- Federal tax reporting
- Foreign financial account disclosures (FBAR / FATCA)
- Retirement accounts
- U.S. investments
- Estate planning considerations
Brazil
- Tax residency
- Local income and investment reporting
- Banking and property
- Currency management
- Family and inheritance considerations
This overview is educational only. It does not describe a comprehensive bilateral tax treaty between the United States and Brazil, and it is not individualized tax advice. Coordinate with qualified U.S. and Brazilian tax professionals for your specific situation.
Retirement In Brazil
Retire in Brazil. Keep Your Financial Plan Connected.
Retirement in Brazil may offer a different lifestyle and spending environment, but it also introduces new financial planning considerations. Your retirement income may originate in U.S. dollars while your daily expenses occur in Brazilian reais. Investment allocation, withdrawal strategies, tax obligations, health care, Social Security, and estate planning should be evaluated together.
U.S. INVESTMENTS + IRAs + SOCIAL SECURITY + OTHER INCOME
CROSS-BORDER RETIREMENT STRATEGY
LIFESTYLE AND FINANCIAL GOALS IN BRAZIL
Estate Planning
Protecting Your Legacy Across Borders.
International estate planning can involve complex questions about citizenship, domicile, property ownership, beneficiaries, and the laws of multiple countries. For families with U.S. and Brazilian connections, it is important to understand how estate and inheritance rules may affect the transfer of assets. The guide introduces key considerations, including estate tax exposure for certain non-U.S. citizens and the importance of coordinating estate planning professionals in both countries.
CITIZENSHIP
DOMICILE AND ASSET LOCATION
POTENTIAL ESTATE TAX EXPOSURE
COORDINATED ESTATE PLANNING
Estate tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and applicable law.
Free Download
Get Your Complimentary Financial Planning Guide.
Start organizing the financial decisions that connect your life in Brazil with your assets, retirement plans, and responsibilities in the United States. Complete the form to receive your complimentary guide.
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Downloading the guide does not sign you up for marketing emails. By submitting the form you agree to MRA’s Privacy Policy. This guide is educational only and is not individualized financial, tax, or legal advice.
About MRA Advisory Group
Financial Planning That Connects Both Sides of Your Life.
MRA Advisory Group helps Americans living in Brazil bring their financial decisions into one coordinated conversation. Our approach considers U.S. investments, retirement accounts, taxes, cash flow, insurance, estate planning, and family priorities together. With an international wealth advisor based in São Paulo and the broader resources of MRA Advisory Group, clients can discuss the financial considerations of living abroad while maintaining a connection to their U.S. financial lives. We work alongside qualified tax, legal, and other professionals when specialized expertise is needed.
MRA Advisory GroupEvery financial decision is connected.+1 844.672.7623Explore Financial Advisor for ExpatsFrequently Asked Questions
Clear Answers Before the First Meeting.
Is this guide only for Americans already living in Brazil?+
No. The guide is intended for Americans already living in Brazil and those considering relocation.
Do U.S. citizens still have to file U.S. tax returns while living in Brazil?+
U.S. citizens generally remain subject to U.S. federal income-tax filing requirements based on worldwide income, although filing obligations and available exclusions or credits depend on individual circumstances.
Can I maintain my U.S. investment accounts while living in Brazil?+
Account availability and permitted transactions depend on the financial institution, account type, applicable regulations, and individual circumstances. Review your arrangements before relocating.
Can I receive U.S. Social Security benefits while living in Brazil?+
Many eligible beneficiaries can receive U.S. Social Security benefits while living in Brazil, subject to applicable payment rules and individual circumstances.
Can MRA help coordinate my U.S. investments and retirement planning?+
MRA helps clients evaluate investment and retirement decisions within their broader financial plans, subject to applicable advisory requirements and account eligibility.
Does MRA prepare U.S. and Brazilian tax returns?+
MRA helps identify and coordinate financial planning questions with qualified U.S. and Brazilian tax professionals. MRA does not prepare tax returns.
Is the guide free?+
Yes. The guide is complimentary and intended for educational purposes.
How can I speak with an MRA advisor?+
Visitors can schedule an introductory conversation using the scheduling link on this page.
MRA Advisory Group
Your Life Is in Brazil. Your Financial Future Deserves a Connected Plan.
Whether you’re preparing to relocate, already living abroad, or planning retirement in Brazil, understanding how your financial decisions connect can help you make more informed choices. Start with the guide. Continue the conversation when you’re ready.
MRA Advisory Group is a Registered Investment Advisor. This page and the accompanying guide are provided for general educational and informational purposes only. They do not constitute individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice, and they are not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any security or to pursue any particular strategy. Not every U.S. investment product or account type is necessarily available to Americans residing in Brazil; availability depends on the financial institution, account type, and individual circumstances. This material does not guarantee any investment outcome, tax result, or reduction in taxes, and it does not describe a comprehensive bilateral tax treaty between the United States and Brazil. MRA does not provide tax or legal advice and works alongside qualified tax, legal, and other professionals when that expertise is needed.
Review MRA’s Form ADV Brochure , Form CRS, and Privacy Policy for additional information. This material is subject to compliance review before publication.