The Y2J Blog
Practical guidance on US tax for Americans in Israel: Aliyah planning, RSUs and stock options, and cross-border strategy.
Why Olim Should Use Their IRAs & Not Leave Them to Their Children?
The usual advice is to preserve the IRA as long as possible. For someone who made Aliyah, that advice may be backwards: the IRA can be unusually tax-efficient in the parent's hands and much less efficient once it passes to the next generation.
The IRS Quietly Signaled We Are About to See More FBAR Penalties
The IRS removed one of the clearest penalty protections available to taxpayers who had failed to file FBARs, with no announcement and no explanation. Here's what changed, what it means, and what anyone with missing FBARs should do.
How to Fix Double Taxed RSUs After Filing
U.S. and Israeli taxation of RSUs often happen in different years, creating a double-tax problem. One election on Form 1116 can have a major impact, but it generally must be made on a timely filed original return.
The Top 5 Section 102 Equity Traps Every Hi-Tech Employee in Israel Needs to Know
Israel's Section 102 capital track is one of the best equity tax deals in the world, and one of the easiest to mess up. The two-year clock runs from grant, not vesting, and these five traps catch even people who know the rule.
W-2 vs LLC in 2026: Which to Choose When Making Aliyah
Before the 2026 tax changes, the W-2 vs contractor question could go either way. After the changes, the answer is much clearer: for almost every income level below $300,000, W-2 wins decisively. Here's the math.
What Hasn't Changed for Aliyah in 2026
Three new laws have created a wave of excitement about making Aliyah in 2026. But the filing obligations, reporting requirements, state tax traps, and year-one timing challenges are all still there, and some are harder than before.
How the New Israeli Tax Exemption Can Actually Raise Your U.S. Tax Bill
Zero Israeli income tax means zero Foreign Tax Credits, and the forced switch to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion can cost families thousands in refundable Child Tax Credits. Here are the workarounds.
Make Aliyah Earning $185,000 & Pay Zero Income Tax in Both the U.S. and Israel
Two new laws passed between November 2025 and March 2026 make it possible for a married couple to make Aliyah, earn $185,000 on a W-2, and pay zero income tax to both the U.S. and Israel. The window is narrow, and the details matter.
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