Are you a foreign investor or non-U.S. resident planning to sell real estate in the United States—especially in Washington State? If so, it’s essential to understand your tax obligations under FIRPTA (Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act) before the deal closes.
Many sellers are surprised to learn that the IRS requires up to 15% of the sales price to be withheld at closing. But with the right guidance, this doesn’t have to be a burden. Our experienced CPA firm is here to walk you through every step—from withholding to refund.
✅ What Foreign Sellers Need to Know
When you sell U.S. real estate as a non-resident, FIRPTA requires the buyer (or escrow) to withhold a portion of the sale price and send it to the IRS. This is not the final tax—it’s a prepayment.
Without timely action, you could lose access to thousands of dollars unnecessarily held by the IRS for years.
That’s where we come in.
🧾 We Provide Full FIRPTA CPA Support:
📝 IRS Forms 8288 & 8288-A: We prepare and file the forms required to remit FIRPTA withholding.
💡 Tax Strategy & Withholding Reduction: We help determine if you qualify for an exception or a reduced withholding.
🆔 ITIN Application (Form W-7): No U.S. tax ID? No problem—we’ll help you apply for one.
📄 Tax Return Filing (Form 1040NR or 1120-F): When it’s time to file your 2026 return, we’ll ensure it’s done right to maximize your refund.
🤝 Full Transaction Support: We work directly with escrow, your real estate agent, and other parties to keep everything compliant and stress-free.
💬 Why Foreign Sellers Choose Us
We are a locally based CPA team that understands the complexities foreign sellers face. Whether you're overseas or managing the transaction remotely, we provide:
✔️ Bilingual service (English & 中文)
✔️ Decades of combined real estate and tax experience
✔️ Fast, responsive communication
✔️ Step-by-step guidance from pre-listing through tax refund
📞 Contact Us Today to Protect Your Proceeds
Selling U.S. property as a foreigner can be complicated—but you don’t have to go through it alone. We’ve helped dozens of non-resident sellers avoid costly delays and recover withheld funds quickly.
📧 Email: info@caoandassociates.net
📱 Call/Text: 425-230-7538 or 425-336-8675
🌐 Visit us online to learn more and schedule a consultation.
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