U.S. & INTERNATIONAL TAX ADVISORY
“Live that International Life”
HTJ.Tax, member of Moores Rowland International
The Principal

Meet Derren Joseph

An IRS Enrolled Agent who trained in comparative tax at Harvard, Derren leads HTJ's international tax practice, advising entrepreneurs, expats and investors whose lives and businesses cross borders.

IRS Enrolled Agent Harvard Comparative Tax Program Moores Rowland International
Who he is

The Person Leading Your File

Derren Joseph, IRS Enrolled Agent and International Tax Advisor at HTJ
Derren Joseph
Principal · Enrolled Agent

Derren Hayden Joseph is an IRS Enrolled Agent, admitted to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service, and completed the Comparative Tax Program at Harvard. He advises US persons and cross-border families on the tax consequences of living, investing and building companies across multiple jurisdictions.

The practice was started in 1980 by his father, Hayden T Joseph. Derren runs it today under the HTJ and Advanced American Tax names, headquartered in Singapore with representative offices across Europe, the UAE and the US. His clients are international entrepreneurs, expats and investors exposed to more than one tax system at once, exactly the situations where a single-country accountant runs out of road.

Alongside his practice, Derren writes and publishes on international tax and hosts the firm's long-running video series, working to make cross-border tax something people can actually understand before they have to make a decision about it.

Tax optimization, asset protection and compliance, handled together, for people whose lives don't fit inside one border.

See the Team Behind Him →

Credentials

Qualified Where It Counts

Licence

IRS Enrolled Agent

The IRS's highest credential, admitted to represent taxpayers before the Internal Revenue Service in all 50 states.

Education

Comparative Tax Program, Harvard

Formal training in how tax systems differ across jurisdictions, the core of cross-border work.

Authorisation

IRS Authorized e-File Provider

Authorised to prepare and electronically file US federal returns.

Professional memberships

National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Moores Rowland International — Chair, Tax Working Group International Tax Planning Association (ITPA) International Business Structuring Association (IBSA) Worshipful Company of Tax Advisers Transnational Taxation Network (TTN)
What he focuses on

Where Derren Spends His Time

Tax Optimization

Structuring income, residency and holdings across jurisdictions so US persons pay what they owe, and not a dollar more, without stepping over the line.

Asset Protection

Trusts, foundations, insurance wrappers and offshore structures, used properly and reported correctly, to protect what has been built.

Compliance Obligations

The US filing web, FBAR, FATCA, information returns and treaty positions, kept clean so a cross-border life doesn't turn into a cross-border problem.

Second Citizenship & Residency

The tax side of second passports and residencies, planned before the move rather than untangled afterwards.

Learn from him

Where to Follow Derren

Derren publishes regularly on international tax. If you want to understand your situation before you talk to anyone, this is a good place to start.

The practice

We are a team of International Tax Advisors, International Tax Accountants and International Tax Lawyers

Hayden T Joseph started a tax practice in 1980. Today, his son, Derren Joseph, who’s successfully completed the Comparative Tax Program at Harvard, runs the practice and is part of a 1,500 strong international tax network that supports International Entrepreneurs, Expats and Investors who are exposed to multiple jurisdictions. Tax optimization. Asset Protection. Compliance obligations. Strategies include second citizenships, second residencies, trusts, foundations, insurance wrappers and other offshore structures.

Read more about Derren… Derren’s books on Amazon

Who we belong to

International Affiliations

Our US tax planning and US tax compliance is done by our teams in 5 great cities – Singapore, Dubai, Lisbon in Portugal, London in the UK and Miami in Florida. These firms carry the HTJ or Advanced American Tax brand names.

Through our Singapore firm we are a member of Moores Rowland International.

Through our firm in Miami, we are a member of the International Tax Planning Association (ITPA).

Through our office in London, we’re a member of the International Business Structuring Association.

What the letters mean

IRS Enrolled Agents vs CPAs vs Tax Lawyers – What is the Difference?

To allow us to provide a wider range of services to our clients, we have Strategic Alliances with I.R.S. Enrolled Agents, International Tax Attorneys, and Qualified Accountants / CPAs. What’s the difference?

In short, a certified public accountant (CPA) is an expert in accounting. Tax matters are one of many specialties of CPAs. While an Enrolled Agent (EA) is a tax practitioner who is authorized by the United States Federal government. EAs are specifically skilled tax experts who are empowered to represent clients before the IRS and can handle matters concerning collections, appeals and audits.

A tax attorney, as the name implies, is a tax law specialist and can represent a client in a court of law. If you find yourself in a difficult tax situation, and you feel you might be headed to court, the person to hire is a tax attorney.

Enrolled agents can represent you before the IRS, but only an attorney can represent you in court. Enrolled Agents are the only tax professionals who get their license to practice directly from the IRS and the United States Treasury.

There are two paths to becoming an EA.

  1. After working for the IRS for five years, an agent can become an EA without passing an examination.
  2. Without working for the IRS, one must pass a thorough background check and a three part exam.

Enrolled agents specialize in the US tax code and tax matters. An EA must know all of the ins and outs of income tax, gift tax, inheritance tax, estate tax, and payroll tax. The continuing professional education required for an EA is seventy-two hours every three years.

A CPA’s continuing education will cover a wide range of accounting and tax matters, but an EA’s education will focus solely on taxation.

An EA tends to have more expertise in tax matters than a CPA. EAs are the only federally authorized tax professionals licensed to practice across all 50 states. The IRS itself recognizes EAs as tax experts. Please note that there is limited privilege in communications between a federally authorized tax practitioner and a taxpayer to the extent the communication would be considered privileged if it were between an attorney and a taxpayer. For this privilege to apply, the communication must be for the purpose of securing tax advice with an expectation of confidentiality. This privilege is limited to noncriminal matters before the IRS or a federal court.

Put Your Situation in Front of Derren's Team

Tell us where your situation crosses borders. A specialist reviews it and tells you honestly how HTJ can help.

Talk to a specialist