Articles Tagged with foreign earned income

Do I Have to File an FBAR If I'm Not a U.S. Citizen?
The Bank Secrecy Act may require you to file a FinCEN 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), even if you are not a U.S. Citizen. The FBAR must be filed annually by all “United States Persons”, which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. residents, and certain entities. The FBAR must be filed if your total interest in foreign accounts exceeds $10,000 at any point during the calendar year.

FBAR Filing Requirements for Non-Citizens

The IRS has its own rules for determining if you are a resident for tax purposes. If you meet either the green card test or the substantial presence test, the IRS considers you a resident, and you must comply with all tax filing requirements, including filing an FBAR.

What is the Exit Tax Charged to Expatriates?
Some taxpayers may be attracted to the idea of expatriating in order to reduce their tax liability, but the “exit tax” that must be paid upon renunciation of citizenship can complicate those plans. This exit tax, also known as the expatriation tax, treats the taxpayer as though he or she has sold all assets at fair market value the day before expatriation. Obviously, this could result in an enormous tax bill for some taxpayers.

Covered Expatriates Under the Exit Tax

Only “covered expatriates” are subject to this tax. Three categories of taxpayers could be considered “covered expatriates”.

Concept of businessman thinking with arrows coming from tax

Tax season is difficult enough. When living abroad, it can become even more complicated. As a U.S. citizen, you must file a tax return with the IRS, regardless of where you are living in the world. You also may need to pay and file taxes in the country where you live. Here are a few of the tax considerations that may affect you while you are living or working abroad.

Worldwide Income

Your tax return must include all your income, whether or not it was earned on U.S. soil. Income earned in a foreign country is taxable by the IRS and must be claimed on your tax return. It may also be taxed by the country where it is earned, causing a double taxation situation. However, you may be able to deduct the tax that you pay to another country. But this can be tricky. Number one, it must be considered deductible by the IRS, which can depend on the country where you are living. Secondly, you must be able to prove you paid the taxes – this can be difficult due to the difference in tax years, and documentation available in various countries.

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