Before you start

An SSN or ITIN
Form W-4 with your employer for federal withholding
Georgia Form G-4 for state withholding
Records of foreign income and foreign financial accounts

Step-by-step

1
Complete the W-4 and G-4 on day one
These set your federal and Georgia withholding. Georgia's flat rate makes the state side simple, but getting the federal form wrong is still the most common cause of an April surprise.
Via employerWho: YouFirst week of employment
2
Determine your US tax residency
The substantial presence test counts weighted days over three years to decide whether the US taxes your worldwide income or only US-source income. Your visa does not decide this.
OnlineWho: You
3
Check for an applicable tax treaty
The US has treaties with around 70 countries that can reduce or exempt tax on particular income types. Treaty benefits are claimed on your return rather than granted automatically.
OnlineWho: You
4
File federal and Georgia returns by 15 April
The tax year is the calendar year. Georgia's flat rate makes the state return straightforward. An extension moves the filing date, not the payment date.
OnlineWho: YouBy 15 April annually
5
File an FBAR if foreign accounts exceed $10,000
Aggregate foreign account balances over $10,000 at any point in the year trigger a FinCEN filing, separate from your tax return.
OnlineWho: You
6
Check the county before you buy property
Georgia property tax is levied by county and school district, and rates vary substantially across the metro — Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett are all different. The homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of a primary residence and must be applied for.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Form W-2 from each employer, issued by 31 January
Form 1099s for freelance, interest and investment income — common in the film industry
Passport and travel history for the substantial presence day count
Foreign account statements for FBAR reporting

Things most newcomers don’t know

Georgia's flat rate is scheduled to keep falling.

The state replaced graduated brackets with a single rate and legislated further step-downs subject to revenue conditions being met each year. That means the rate you plan around today may be lower next year — but also that the schedule is conditional rather than guaranteed. Check the current year's rate rather than assuming.

Source: Georgia Department of Revenue — tax rates

The film industry runs on 1099s, and that changes your filing.

Georgia's production sector employs enormous numbers of people as contractors rather than employees. If you are paid on a 1099 you owe self-employment tax and quarterly estimated payments, and you may have multi-state filing obligations from location work. Set money aside from the first payment.

Source: IRS — self-employed individuals tax center

Property tax varies sharply across the metro.

Rates are set by county and school district, and the difference between Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb and Gwinnett is material on the same house price. Because so much of metro Atlanta sits outside the city, the county line is a real financial boundary. Check the specific parcel's tax record before buying.

Source: Georgia Department of Revenue — property tax

Your visa does not determine your tax residency.

The substantial presence test — a weighted day count across three years — decides whether the US taxes your worldwide income. Someone on a temporary visa can be a US tax resident; someone on a long visa can fail the test.

Source: IRS — substantial presence test

Common mistakes to avoid

Using an old Georgia rate — the flat rate has been stepping down and changes by year.
Taking film or production work on a 1099 without setting aside self-employment tax.
Buying property without checking the specific county and school district rates.
Missing the FBAR because a home-country account did not feel 'foreign'.
Believing a filing extension also extends the payment deadline.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.