Guides

Plain-English answers to the questions the calculator raises — written from SSA and IRS source rules.

Countries with no U.S. totalization agreement

India, China, Singapore, the UAE and more — what double coverage and stranded credits mean when no treaty protects you.

WEP repealed: foreign pensions after the Social Security Fairness Act

The 2025 repeal quietly ended a major penalty on Americans with foreign pensions. What changes for cross-border retirees.

Certificate of Coverage: how to get one

The document that actually stops double social security tax — who requests it, where, and the mistakes that cost months.

Self-employed abroad: the 15.3% question

Why FEIE doesn’t save you from self-employment tax, and how the residence rule in totalization agreements can.

Educational content, not tax or legal advice.