International tax advisor in Miami for global founders in the US
A founder moved to Brickell certain that Florida meant no taxes. Six months after landing, already a US tax resident, he sold a stake in his overseas company and the IRS taxed the entire historic gain. Had he sold before crossing the line, or planned the crossing, he would have paid a fraction. Florida has no state income tax, true. Florida was never the issue.
Miami's most expensive misunderstanding
Miami markets itself as an informal tax haven, and there is truth underneath: Florida is one of the states with no state income tax. But the tax that really matters is the federal one, the IRS, and it applies the same in Miami as in New York. The day you become a US tax resident, the IRS taxes your worldwide income: your Miami earnings, your dividends abroad, the rent on a flat in London, your crypto gains, wherever they arise.
An international tax advisor for the global founder arriving in the US does not sell Florida. They plan the one moment that truly sets your bill for years: the instant you move from non-resident to US tax resident.
When you become a US tax resident
It is not when you buy a home or get a driver's licence. These are specific tax rules, and there are two main ones:
| Path | How it works | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Green card | From the day you receive it you are a US tax resident, wherever you live | Worldwide income taxed by the IRS |
| Substantial presence | Days in the US are weighted: all of the current year, a third of the prior year, a sixth of the year before | If the total crosses the statutory threshold, you are a tax resident |
| Election | In certain cases you can choose to be taxed as a resident | Depends on your immigration and family situation |
Many people cross the substantial presence test without noticing, stacking stays over several years. The day you cross, the IRS begins to look at your entire global balance sheet. That is why the calendar matters as much as the structure.
Non-resident founders selling into the US are different
Global founders often build in the US before they live there: a US company, US customers, US investors. That already creates US filing and withholding exposure even as a non-resident. If you later relocate to Miami, the two questions collide, and the sequence in which you cross into residency, exit any prior country, and handle your equity is what decides your outcome.
Does the US route fit your case? Find out in 3 minutes
Our AI co-founder reviews your situation (where you are coming from, your assets, your company, your US exposure) and gives you a first analysis at no cost. If your case warrants it, a strategy consultation with a written signed opinion costs $449 USD.
Start my free diagnosis →What a good advisor does before you land
1. Set the residency date on purpose
Determines when it is best to cross into US tax residency and how to structure your arrival so the timing works for you.
2. Reset your basis before the threshold
Reviews appreciated assets, pending dividends, your company and investments to decide what to execute before arrival.
3. Coordinate the exit from your prior country
If you remain resident somewhere else, that door is closed or the treaty is used to prevent double taxation.
4. Keep US compliance clean
The IRS requires information reporting on foreign accounts and entities. Reporting correctly avoids penalties that often exceed the tax itself.
What it costs, and the gap we fill
Large firms serve corporates and their fees start in the tens of thousands. Boutique advisories charge from $15,000 USD and rarely combine US expertise with a clean exit from where you came. That is the gap we fill: a $449 USD strategy consultation with a written signed opinion you keep, and implementation quoted by project only if you decide to execute with us.
Frequently asked questions
Does living in Miami mean I pay no income tax?
Florida has no state income tax, which is real and valuable. But federal tax, the tax the IRS charges, applies the same in Miami as anywhere in the US, and it is the larger of the two. Once you become a US tax resident, the IRS taxes your worldwide income, not just what you earn in Florida. No state tax helps, but it is not the whole story.
When do I become a US tax resident?
Mainly through the green card test (resident from the day you receive it) or the substantial presence test, which weighs the days you spend in the US across the current and two prior years using a formula. You can also elect residency in some cases. Being a US tax resident is not the same as holding a visitor or business visa, and many people cross the line without realising it.
What should a founder plan before moving to Miami?
The moment you become a US tax resident defines which assets and gains enter the IRS's scope. Selling appreciated assets, paying dividends, restructuring your company or resetting your basis is usually done before arrival, not after. That pre-arrival planning is the difference between being taxed on what grows after you land and being taxed on your entire history.
How much does an international tax advisor cost in Miami?
Big 4 engagements typically start in the five figures and boutique advisories charge from $15,000 USD. Zero Tax charges $449 USD for a strategy consultation with a written signed opinion, with implementation quoted separately.
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International tax advisor for Americans abroad US citizens abroad: why moving doesn't stop the IRS Renouncing US citizenship: exit tax and the real mathThis content is informational and educational. It is not legal or tax advice. Verify current regulations and consult a specialist about your case before making decisions.