By Victor Gersten, EA, CFP®, MS, MPAS™ | Information current as of October 2026
Quick answer
Most Americans in Spain file two returns every year: a US Form 1040 and a Spanish Modelo 100. We coordinate both. Independent partner firms in the US and Spain prepare and file the returns, and Victor Gersten, an IRS Enrolled Agent, reviews them before they are filed. Cross Border Wealth Advisors does not prepare returns in house.
Why two returns need one point of coordination
US citizens file a US return on worldwide income wherever they live, and Spanish tax residents generally file in Spain on worldwide income too. The same pension distribution, dividend or rental can appear on both returns, and how it is classified on one affects the other.
When a US preparer and a Spanish gestor work separately, each answer can be correct and the two can still conflict. Nobody is responsible for how the returns fit together. That gap is what our tax coordination covers.
How the work is divided
- Cross Border Wealth Advisors gathers and reconciles the information both sides need, models how your decisions flow into the US and Spanish returns (treaty positions, the foreign tax credit, retirement withdrawals), and makes sure the preparers work from the same assumptions.
- Partner firms in the US and Spain prepare and file the returns under their own licenses and their own engagement letters with you. They are responsible for the accuracy of the returns they sign.
- Victor Gersten, EA, reviews the returns before they are filed and raises questions with the preparers when something does not fit your plan.
- You approve the returns, sign them and supply the documents.
The partner firms are vetted professionals we work with, and the arrangement is not exclusive. Some clients keep their own preparer, and we coordinate with them the same way.
What is included in each package
| What is covered | Sailor | Settler | Founder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tax coordination with your preparers | Included | Included | Included |
| Review of your US and Spanish returns before filing | Included | Included | Included |
| Return preparation by partner firms | You arrange your own preparation. We do not pay any part of it. | US and Spanish personal returns. We pay partner firm invoices up to $3,000 per tax year. | US personal, Spanish personal and autónomo reporting. We pay partner firm invoices up to $5,000 per tax year. |
| Corporate or entity returns | Coordinated, prepared by your corporate advisers | Coordinated, prepared by your corporate advisers | Coordinated, prepared by your corporate advisers and not covered by the $5,000 amount |
These terms apply to agreements signed on or after October 1, 2026. Clients who signed earlier keep the terms of their existing agreement. Preparation costs above the amount we pay are separate and are described in our Form ADV Part 2A. See the pricing page for the full fee schedule.
What we do not do
We do not prepare tax returns in house or give legal advice. We also do not advise on state taxes, so please confirm your state position with a state tax professional. Corporate and entity returns are prepared by your own corporate advisers, and we coordinate with them.
Who this fits
This service fits Americans who live in Spain or are planning to move there and have returns in both countries. It is especially useful if you hold accounts that create reporting (such as an FBAR, FATCA reporting or a Modelo 720), draw retirement income from both sides, own investments that may be PFICs, or have years of unfiled US returns to bring current.
Related reading
- Modelo 720: What Americans in Spain Actually Have to Declare
- The US Spain Tax Treaty Explained
- FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit: Which One Should You Use?
- The PFIC Trap: Why Spanish Investment Products Punish American Investors
- Cashing Out a 401k While Living in Spain: The Tax Consequences
Common questions
Does Cross Border Wealth Advisors prepare my tax returns?
No. Independent partner firms in the US and Spain prepare and file the returns. Victor Gersten, an IRS Enrolled Agent, reviews them before they are filed, and we coordinate the two sides so the returns agree.
Who is responsible for the accuracy of the returns?
The firm that prepares and signs a return carries responsibility for the filing and its accuracy. Our role is coordination and review.
Can I keep my own tax preparer?
Yes. The partner firms are vetted professionals we work with, and the arrangement is not exclusive. If you already have a preparer, we coordinate with them the same way.
What does tax coordination cost?
Tax coordination and return review are part of every ongoing package. In the Settler and Founder packages we also pay partner firm invoices up to $3,000 and $5,000 per tax year. See the pricing page for the full schedule.
Want to see how this would work for your returns?
Book a free 20 minute intro call or take the 1 minute package finder. You can also see our pricing.
Cross Border Wealth Advisors is a California state-registered investment adviser (CRD 309890). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This page is general education only and is not legal or tax advice, or an offer of advisory services until a formal client agreement is executed. Fees are negotiable and may vary based on complexity, scope of services and client circumstances. Lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources. Described in our Form ADV Part 2A.