Best 2026 Universal Tax Professionals Review

Updated: January 9, 2026 by Michael Kahn. Published: January 9, 2026.

Finding affordable accountants that can offer tax preparation services to expats is often challenging for people who live abroad outside of the United States. It’s something that can lead to all sorts of issues like lack of historical tax compliance.

But according to outfits like Universal Tax Professionals, it’s a problem to be solved with proper assistance. According to this firm, a lot of people who are living abroad put off dealing with their tax compliance issues back home. Because they’re overseas, they don’t feel the same pressure that they would if they were living domestically. However, issues can still arise, and, as most Americans know, they are still liable for worldwide taxes no matter where their official tax residency is. 

This is why we’re so interested in Universal Tax Professionals (UTP). This company distinguishes itself from other large accounting firms by offering a host of benefits that are challenging to find elsewhere. We’re not saying that it’s the perfect option, but we were interested enough to review it. Below, you’ll find some of the things we liked and some of the things that we disliked, followed by a final verdict at the end as to whether we think you should use it. 

What does UTP do?

Universal Tax Professionals has been around for more than a decade now and it helps Americans with their U.S. tax obligations. So far it has become a leading provider of U.S. tax solutions in more than 100 companies, thanks to its dedication to expertise and accuracy. So far it’s had more than 4,000 customers and works with over 100 business partners across the globe, including tax filing, including historical tax filing. 

One of the things UTP claims to do is provide services to customers who might not have paid their historical taxes or may have backed taxes that need to be processed. It has systems in place, it claims, to deal with these, so even if you do owe the government money, it might not be the end of the world as long as you declare it. 

What we liked about Universal Tax Professionals

So, what was it we liked most about UTP? And what are the reasons we might recommend it to other people? 

Specialized expats expertise

One of the problems we found using conventional accounting services based in the US is that they don’t understand the unique tax position of ex-patriots. This is where UTP comes into its own. It focuses exclusively on Americans who need to pay taxes in the US and can handle complex tax situations. It also includes amnesty programs like the Streamlining Filing Compliance procedure and claims to have a 100% success rate. This means that even if you haven’t paid your taxes in the past, you can still go to the company and potentially get lenient treatment from the IRS. 

Affordable compared to the alternatives

Another perk of this service is that it is highly affordable compared to the alternatives. Many Americans find that they can’t afford the costs of the big four accounting firms without compromising on quality. However, many individuals who live overseas have also outgrown DIY tax software and need professionals to assist them with their accounting. This is why Universal Tax Professionals is seen as a safety net for a lot of people, and this is how we would characterise them. Going to them allows businesses to quickly deal with their tax compliance issues and get back to operations. 

Problem-solving approach

Another perk of using UTP is its unique problem-solving approach. It doesn’t just focus on basic tax preparation or filing for historical compliance, it also helps filers avoid penalties and achieve lasting compliance in the future so that tax authorities aren’t constantly chasing them down. This practical methodology means that UTP was more useful than we expected. We simply thought that the service would help to remove historical aberrations from our records, but what it actually did was make us more robust against future problems and tax compliance issues. This is something that many expats overseas will understand and will help prevent them from being on the receiving end of action from the authorities. 

Global reach

Finally, as mentioned, Universal Tax Professionals has global reach. We like the fact that the service is available in over 100 countries worldwide. Meaning that it is accessible to expats in most locations. While it might not be operational in some minor countries, it does have a presence in all the big ones, making it a highly reliable option for anybody who is looking for a life outside of the United States. 

What we didn’t like about Universal Tax Professionals

We didn’t experience any major issues while using Universal Tax Professionals, however, there were some minor drawbacks that we feel it’s worth drawing attention to. For example, the preparation process usually takes 2 to 3 weeks. That’s normal for most accountants, but if you’re a client who needs a quick turnaround because of a tax issue, then you may require a faster service. 

On top of that, there is the US-centric operation. We understand why Universal Tax Professionals is based in Ohio with U.S. phone numbers, however this may be challenging for people in different time zones or who can’t make international calls. Support for expats in distant regions is available, but it relies on them making communication easier. 

Lastly, clients have to collect and download all of their specific documents via email and other secure links. This is just a minor hassle and something you could expect of most accountants, but it was still something that we had to do. 

Final verdict

So, what’s our final verdict for Universal Tax Professionals? Well, there were some things that we would have liked to have seen, like streamlined online document submission and instant pricing. However, the service is so helpful for people who are living overseas from the US that it’s hard not to give it a 5-star rating. We felt like the price-to-value ratio was exceptionally good, especially when compared to the big four accounting firms.