As a tax practitioner I have assisted many taxpayers for decades with expatriation issues (i.e., relinquishing US citizenship or a green card held for at least 8 tax years). In the best case scenario, the taxpayer can avoid being treated as a "covered expatriate" (CE). Sometimes tax planning, correcting tax returns or submitting delinquent international … Continue reading Expatriation and Tax Compliance – IRS Fails to Process the Tax Return
Category: COVID-19 and US Tax Issues
Americans Abroad: Sale of “Principal Residence”, Gain Exclusion, Unforeseen Circumstances & COVID-19
Section 121 of the US Internal Revenue Code allows for the exclusion of up to $250,000 ($500,000 for a married couple filing jointly) in gains arising from the sale of a "principal residence." The exclusion applies whether the residence is located Stateside or overseas. The tax law has very specific rules. Aside from the fact that … Continue reading Americans Abroad: Sale of “Principal Residence”, Gain Exclusion, Unforeseen Circumstances & COVID-19
Closing the International Tax Gap: IRS Doing Virtually Nothing With FATCA
Today’s blog post discusses the overall and international tax gaps, takes a look at the offshore world and how enforcement of the tax laws is faring (hint - not so good). It summarizes some important testimony given on May 11, 2021 by the Honorable J. Russell George, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration before the … Continue reading Closing the International Tax Gap: IRS Doing Virtually Nothing With FATCA
US Tax Training – Moving Abroad: Tax Impact on Digital Nomads, Remote Workers and Their (Often Overlooked) Employers
Tax pro’s - are you prepared to advise clients who wish to explore foreign work possibilities? So many changes have been wrought as a result of COVID-19, one of the biggest being remote working. As a direct result of the pandemic people are moving or considering it. COVID-19 has convinced us that having internet access and … Continue reading US Tax Training – Moving Abroad: Tax Impact on Digital Nomads, Remote Workers and Their (Often Overlooked) Employers
Renouncing One’s US Citizenship: More Audits, Virtual Currency, CLN & Travel
COVID-19 restrictions have severely limited services at US embassies and consulates around the world. As a result, renouncing one’s US citizenship has become very difficult, and in many cases, just about impossible at the current time. This gives individuals more time to make sure they have properly planned for expatriation. It's a big step. I … Continue reading Renouncing One’s US Citizenship: More Audits, Virtual Currency, CLN & Travel
Thinking of Moving Abroad? Here’s the Scoop with the Tax Girl and the Tax Lady
Looking to live under the Tuscan sun? Dreaming about Dubai? The pandemic has had many people considering a move. Many are looking at a move abroad. Kelly Phillips Erb, the @TaxGirl and I (@VLJeker , the @TaxLady_w_Style) had a great conversation about what it means from a tax and practical perspective for a US person … Continue reading Thinking of Moving Abroad? Here’s the Scoop with the Tax Girl and the Tax Lady
Estate Taxes Going Up – Is There Still a Golden Gifting Opportunity?
Janet Yellen, the former Federal Reserve chairperson is now the new US Secretary of the Treasury. She has staunchly defended President Biden's plan to reduce the estate-tax exemption amount from the current US$11.5 million to US$3.5 million, as well as to increase the top estate tax rate from 40% to 45%. In responding to criticism … Continue reading Estate Taxes Going Up – Is There Still a Golden Gifting Opportunity?
What a Mess: Debt Forgiveness and the American Abroad
Imagine you are an American taxpayer living overseas. Like so many other Americans you are facing financial hardships wrought by COVID-19. You have a car loan you cannot pay and mounting credit card debt. Like an angel from above, your creditors agree to forever forgive some of the amounts you otherwise owe them. You cannot … Continue reading What a Mess: Debt Forgiveness and the American Abroad
Americans Abroad: IRS Issues 2020 Form 2555 and Instructions Detailing COVID-19 Relief
Americans working abroad are usually eligible to exclude certain foreign earned income (wages, compensation for services) from US taxable income under the rules governing the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE). In addition they may be able to exclude certain amounts paid for foreign housing using the Foreign Housing Exclusion (FHE). Both are governed by Internal … Continue reading Americans Abroad: IRS Issues 2020 Form 2555 and Instructions Detailing COVID-19 Relief
Expatriation: More than just a Fashionable Trend — Numbers Climb
The number of individuals ending their US status, or “expatriating” continues to rise unabated. “Expatriates” as used in this context refers to citizens renouncing US citizenship or “long term residents” giving up a green card. On October 28 the Treasury Department released the names of 732 individuals who “expatriated” during the third quarter of 2020. When … Continue reading Expatriation: More than just a Fashionable Trend — Numbers Climb