At Bright!Tax, we focus exclusively on US expat tax – it's all we do. Our team works one-on-one with you to address your unique needs. So whether you're filing, amending, or catching up on taxes, you're able to connect with a CPA (on day one!) to ask questions & outline a plan that will guarantee your best filing outcomes. Bright!Tax is loved by Americans living in every country worldwide. Why? We're expats ourselves, so our expertise goes beyond taxes - it's personal. We intimately understand the complications, complexities, and confusion of the US tax system while living abroad. It's become our mission to leave you feeling confident and stress-free, year-over-year.Don't just survive tax season - thrive. Receive your maximum possible refund, or we'll make up the difference, guaranteed.
Bright!Tax (brighttax.com) has 631 customer reviews on Five Star Index, with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Also known as
brighttax.com
Website
brighttax.com
Category
Accounting & Tax
Location
New York, New York
Listed on Five Star Index
2026
About these reviews
Replies
The company replied to 16% of reviews.
Latest
Most recent review: October 2026.
Edits
Reviews are shown as their authors wrote them. The company can reply, but cannot edit them.
Score
This company cannot pay to remove reviews or change its score.
All appearances of a good company but no rolling thief sleeves up
I don’t understand these reviews as it’s not the experience I have had
After a month of chasing support to trying to get up and running and I have today received an email asking for clarification of the problem
You think that they would just pick up the phone and get on with resolving the problem
My experience with this new company is like pulling teeth. All appearance of help and no rolling there sleeves up and working
Response from Bright!TaxAug 14, 2026
Dinah, thank you for taking the time to write this, and I am sorry the last month has felt like such hard work.
We have gone looking for you across our records and cannot locate a file, an email, or a support request in your name. That may mean you wrote to us from a different address, or it may be that the company you have been working with is a different one. Either way, we would rather get to the bottom of it than leave you waiting.
The fastest path is a live conversation. If you write to [email protected], we will call you at a time that suits you and work the problem through directly.
MG
Mariah G.
THEY SUCK
THEY SUCK! They didn't file documents that they were supposed to have filed THREE FREAKING YEARS AGO and now I am having to pay the price. Save yourself the headache and don't bother with these imbeciles.
Response from Bright!TaxJul 21, 2026
Hi Mariah, we take all client concerns seriously and looked into this immediately. However, we have no record of anyone by this name in our system. We want to be transparent about this, as it's important that our profile accurately reflects genuine experiences with Bright!Tax. If there has been any confusion, we invite you to reach out to us directly at [email protected] so that we can work toward a resolution. Thank you in advance.
KI
kitty
Prices up for new AI slop system
I've been using them for years, previously always excellent service. When I signed up in advance last year, everything was normal. I checked that my info was still accurate in their organizer. No issues. Ready to go, so I paid my deposit.
I decided to start on that 2025 organizer today. They've instituted a new "system" since I paid. Deleted. Everything is deleted. My company info is gone. My extensive FBAR info gone (dozens of account numbers, bank details and balances). Years of returns gone. Even my last name was reverted to my maiden name. It's a brand new account with nothing on it, and my company has disappeared entirely.
The new questionnaire is completely generic and clearly intended for AI processing. It asks a multitude of questions intended for the general population, while having no insight on your existing situation or your previous filings. It seems to mix business questions with personal questions, all in one big generic mess, and it's hard to tell whether I'm supposed to answer for business or personal.
Simultaneously, it omits any particular tax needs, such as an FBAR. It's exactly what any random AI would ask from somebody on a 6 month vacation. Not a 15 year expat who's already been with Bright tax for years. They didn't bother to transfer a single detail from my original account, everything is just blank while the AI wants to know about my 'long vacation'.
Avoid. You can get generic AI slop taxes that omit any personalization for free. And mass deletion with no warning is a pretty nasty thing to do after a client has already paid their deposit.
I would NOT have agreed to $1350 if I had known that the plan was just to delete my account and replace my personalized service with a generic AI form that omits the most important parts of my filing and doesn't even remember my name from last year.
Response from Bright!TaxMar 31, 2026
Thank you for this feedback, Kitty. We understand how frustrating and alarming this must have been, especially as a long-standing client.
We want to reassure you: your data has not been deleted. We recently migrated to a new platform and are transferring historical client data manually rather than through an automated process, as a deliberate decision to protect sensitive financial information. We clearly should have communicated that before you logged in.
The new system is also not AI-based, though we hear you on the new questionnaire feeling generic and impersonal. It is designed to be as robust as possible so that no details are overlooked in your tax situation.
Please email our Director of Client Success at [email protected]. Melissa will personally make sure your account is restored and your 2025 filing gets the attention it deserves. We'd love the chance to make this right.
JD
Julian D.
I was with this company for 4 years…
I was with this company for 4 years until they gave out personal information out to my estranged ex wife who at that time that they gave out the information my ex had kidnapped the kids the personal assistant Zola Adegboyega told my ex that i was not filing our taxes together my ex was never on my bright tax account and that information should not have been giving out and when i rasied the issue the company did not make things right it was blessing in disguise because I found out with my new CPA they were overcharging me for forms I did not need
Response from Bright!TaxDec 2, 2025
Julian, thank you for taking the time to share your perspective. We understand how upsetting this situation feels, especially given the personal circumstances you described, and we take concerns about privacy and professionalism with the utmost seriousness.
Bright!Tax follows strict confidentiality protocols, and while we cannot discuss any individual account details here, we can clarify that our team does not disclose clients’ sensitive tax information to unauthorized parties. We are committed to ensuring every client receives accurate guidance, appropriate pricing, and the highest level of care.
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly so we can specifically address any remaining concerns. Please reach out to us at [email protected] or contact your former Client Success Manager.
JM
J.M.
I am really unhappy with the Bright Tax…
I am really unhappy with the Bright Tax service this year. I have been a customer for 9 years and have always had a great experience. This year I have had no messages from my CPA, poor and evasive communication about e-filing deadlines resulting in needing to mail my return in, and an astronomical price increase. The service I’ve received is frankly not worth the nearly $1,000 I’ll pay for the service. I was also quoted for a service I did not need, then told “just accept the quote to get started and we will remove it later if you don’t need it.” I have always liked the ease of the Bright Tax system but I can’t say I will come back next year due to these negative changes.
Response from Bright!TaxNov 11, 2025
Thank you for your feedback, Julia. It's invaluable as we refine our services. We're truly sorry to hear about your disappointing experience this year, especially after nine years of positive interactions. We value long-term clients like you and are committed to making this right.
We apologize for the communication challenges, including the lack of direct outreach from your previous CPA and the unclear guidance on e-filing deadlines. We've recently enhanced our team structure by assigning a dedicated Client Success Manager (CSM) to every client, who serves as the primary point of contact and coordinates with our tax experts as needed.
Regarding pricing: We understand the increase felt significant, and we empathize with how challenging this transition can be for loyal clients accustomed to our previous fee structure. That approach, while well-intentioned, proved unsustainable in supporting our team's well-being, which is critical to providing the consistent high-quality service you deserve. We're confident our balanced new structure will deliver even stronger results and enhanced relationships over time.
On the quote including an unnecessary service: Our aim is always transparency, so we include all potential fees upfront and remove those that don't apply before final billing to avoid surprises. We recognize this could have been clearer.
As a gesture of appreciation for your loyalty, we'll also reach out privately to ensure a smoother experience moving forward and determine if there is anything we can do to make this right. We're optimistic we can rebuild your trust and continue providing the reliable service you've valued over the years.
We appreciate your feedback, Julia.
PA
Paula
Used to be a good firm to deal with
I have been using Bright!tax for well over ten years and the experience this year has been awful. It’s like dealing with a completely different firm.
I applied for an extension until December. I received an email a few weeks ago telling me the FBAR was due 15th October and my information needed to be uploaded by the 6th of October to make the deadline. I provided the information with the timeframe, but my FBAR is still not filed. When I followed up, I received an out of office message from my accountant saying she would be away until 3 November. I emailed every email address I had for Bright!tax and had a response that the missed deadline was a “hiccup” and people are “usually” not penalised for filing their FBAR a few days late. They asked me to review my information, which I did, and I replied informing them they’d miss the state in my address. It’s now been a week with no response and my FBAR still isn’t filed. A week following up and no response has been received from anyone.
Bright!tax dropped the ball on a deadline a few years ago but apologised, blamed the fact that they were short staffed, and I gave them another chance. Seems they have a lack of care and customer service these days and it’s really disappointing when their prices continue to increase.
I’d recommend any other service - one that had the values Bright!tax used to have when they replied quickly and worked to resolve issues.
Response from Bright!TaxNov 11, 2025
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, Paula. We truly appreciate it as it helps us improve our services. We're deeply sorry for the frustrating experience you've had this year, particularly given your loyalty over more than a decade. Long-standing clients like you are at the heart of our firm, and we're determined to resolve this.
We regret the issues with your FBAR filing, from the delays after you provided your information on time, to the out-of-office delay, and the slow response after your address correction. We never take deadlines lightly, and we're sorry if our follow-up seemed casual. That isn't our goal at all.
For better support going forward, we've strengthened our operations by dedicating a Client Success Manager (CSM) to each client as the main liaison, who efficiently involves our tax specialists when required. On the FBAR timing: Our assurance about low risk for late filings comes from an IRS-approved method we've reliably used for over ten years across many client scenarios, with no penalties encountered in practice. Still, we hear your worries and are focused on more precise and proactive updates.
About the pricing: We recognize the adjustments have been noticeable, and we sympathize with the difficulty this poses for dedicated clients familiar with our previous pricing. While more affordable, that model wasn't viable long-term for fostering team sustainability, essential to the top-tier service you expect. We believe our refined approach will yield more robust outcomes and deeper client connections in the future.
We're hopeful we can regain your confidence in the remainder of this year's project with us and deliver the attentive service you've known us for. We value your sincerely and time, Paula.
EL
Emily L.
9 year customer disappointed by company change!
I have been filing with this company for years (literally nine years). Suddenly I got a quote that is almost double the price. They want to charge me 830 dollars for one year of running my taxes when it's normally around half or max 500. What is going on?
They responded to my concern to say that their prices are inflated because of the lack of accountants and the new software they have to use and so on.
Question: would you pay 830 bucks to run taxes when you don't have property, any other income besides a foreign salary and thousand bucks of consultant pay and literally never have a high enough bank balance to report anything? (I feed all my money directly into my pension pillars so my bank balance is so low and literally there is nothing extraordinary about my financial circumstances right now.)
These folks used to be really nice when they needed clients. Super helpful. Now they are snobby and they have too many clients and not enough accountants and charge more.
That was the memo they made sure I received from every direction and with every message the last two days. They asked me to name a price in the end so I'm "not in a corner so late in the year" based on the surprise rate hike and "I'd have time to find some other service."
I said 500. And the response was "that is extremely low for a firm of our size but ok." I mean, is that tone necessary? Who cares what size your firm is. I am a client and loyal and if you are too busy for me and able to rob other people, why would I think anything big of you?
I don't. And I found a cheaper way to go even this year. Much cheaper. Look out, AI might make that accounting company quite small soon and you all will remember that being cool with your customers is better an evergreen setting.
Response from Bright!TaxAug 7, 2025
Hi Emily,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience — and most importantly, thank you for trusting us with your taxes over the past nine years. That kind of loyalty means a great deal to us, and we’re genuinely sorry to hear that this year’s experience did not meet your expectations.
We understand that the pricing shift came as a surprise, and we agree that transparency and consistency are key — especially when it comes to something as personal and sensitive as your taxes. We’ve made changes this year to meet higher compliance standards and ensure secure, expert service as regulations and technologies evolve, but we absolutely recognize how that impacts returning clients.
When you reached out, our team aimed to respond quickly and respectfully. We provided all of your prior filings right away, and we honored last year’s pricing in full — not because we had to, but because we truly value your relationship with us. We’re sorry if any of our communications came across as impersonal or dismissive; that was never our intent.
We’re sad to see you go, but we fully support your choice to find the service that best fits your needs. If there’s anything more we can do to help you in this transition, just let us know — we’re here for you.
Wishing you all the best,
The Bright!Tax Team
DA
David
Beware
It looks like I am the outlier of these reviews. I had a horrible experience with BrightTax, despite getting assurances from the CEO about what I would experience. I found many mistakes (apparently they have no QA process), the most egregious of which was classifying interest as a penalty withdrawal. Then dismissing me when I asked about it. No excuses for this kind of error. A director stepped in to set things right and provided a partial refund but I’m nervous the rest of the return is riddled with mistakes that I didn’t catch as I’m not an accountant. Beware.
Response from Bright!TaxMay 26, 2025
Thank you for sharing your experience, David. We acknowledge that your journey with Bright!Tax was not what we promised and are truly sorry for that.
You started with expectations that were absolutely fair: accuracy, expertise, and timely communication. But when it came time to deliver, we missed the mark. That’s not the standard we set for ourselves, and not the experience anyone should have to go through.
The CPA you worked with early on is no longer with our team. After you brought these issues to our attention, CPA Melissa brought care, clarity, and real commitment to getting things right. She worked to correct the returns, provide clear explanations, and ultimately ensure you received a refund for the fees tied to that experience.
Even so, I understand the poor experience remains. Thank you again for your honesty, and for giving us the chance to make things right, even if it came late.