Tag: tax reform

COVID-19: Is Employer Provided Assistance due to the Pandemic Taxable Income? What if the Employer is “Foreign”?

Last week's blog post discussed the home office tax deduction and burst the bubble for many who were working at home for months under COVID-19 restrictions.  Unfortunately, as discussed in that earlier post, this tax break cannot be used by an individual who is an “employee” as opposed to "self-employed".  This restriction is a result … Continue reading COVID-19: Is Employer Provided Assistance due to the Pandemic Taxable Income? What if the Employer is “Foreign”? →

GILTI High Tax Kick-Out Election — Kicked Out by Dems!

On February 12, Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, introduced legislation to prevent the Treasury Department from carving out an exception (commonly called the GILTI High Tax Kick-Out) for multinational companies to escape the so-called GILTI provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The title of the … Continue reading GILTI High Tax Kick-Out Election — Kicked Out by Dems! →

Repatriation/Transition Tax: IRS Announces Limited “Double Taxation” Relief

NEWS FLASH! The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that there are limited circumstances in which it may be appropriate to provide relief from "double taxation" resulting from application of the repatriation tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 965, as amended by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). The IRS has determined that in … Continue reading Repatriation/Transition Tax: IRS Announces Limited “Double Taxation” Relief →

ATTENTION! Married Filing Separately? $5 of Gross Income? Must File US Income Tax Return!

Yes, that did read US$5. Not $50. Not $500……This measly number will heavily impact Americans abroad who are married to non-US spouses.  In many instances, the US spouse will file separately and keep the non-US spouse completely out of the US tax picture.  This may not always be the best tax strategy but in some … Continue reading ATTENTION! Married Filing Separately? $5 of Gross Income? Must File US Income Tax Return! →

Overseas Home? Mortgage Interest, Foreign Real Property Taxes & New US Tax Law – Any Workaround?

Sweeping tax reform was signed into law by President Trump on December 22, 2017.  Now that tax returns are being prepared for the 2018 year, individuals are more keenly feeling the impact of the “Tax Cuts and Job Act” (“TCJA”). I’ve had numerous calls on two questions by Americans overseas who own a foreign residence.  … Continue reading Overseas Home? Mortgage Interest, Foreign Real Property Taxes & New US Tax Law – Any Workaround? →

US Tax Law to American Abroad – “How Do I Hate Thee, Let Me Count the Ways”

Regular readers of my tax blog will not be surprised by the title of this post and the content it hints at delivering. They likely realize by now that the American person abroad is not looked upon favorably by the US tax laws.  The tax laws look at anything “foreign” with a jaundiced eye when … Continue reading US Tax Law to American Abroad – “How Do I Hate Thee, Let Me Count the Ways” →

Americans Abroad: Taxpayer GILTI Victory Just Announced in Proposed Regulations!

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) just issued proposed Regulations dealing with the “Deduction for Foreign-Derived Intangible Income and Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”)”.  The proposed regulations mark a big win for Americans running their businesses through foreign corporations.  The regulations are scheduled to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow.  In part, they address the … Continue reading Americans Abroad: Taxpayer GILTI Victory Just Announced in Proposed Regulations! →

QBI Deduction? Not for the American Abroad! AND Next Year, IRS Will Be Checking Your Numbers!

Section 199A of the Internal Revenue Code was created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). If a taxpayer can utilize the new law, the taxpayer can save a bundle in taxes since the provision provides a 20% deduction for so-called “qualified business income” ("QBI”).  The American abroad will not be so lucky since … Continue reading QBI Deduction? Not for the American Abroad! AND Next Year, IRS Will Be Checking Your Numbers! →

Americans Abroad – How to Cope With Tax Reform & Save for Education

President Trump’s tax reform (commonly referred to as the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act", and also known as "TCJA" was signed into law on December 22, 2017.  My recent blog post detailed how TCJA revised the “kiddie tax” rules and how the new rules will take a big bite out of a young person’s investment income, … Continue reading Americans Abroad – How to Cope With Tax Reform & Save for Education →

Hot off the Press: IRS User-Friendly Guides Explain TCJA Basics

Tax simplification was an enunciated goal of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) enacted in December 2017... but it was certainly a goal that remains unmet.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) itself has estimated that due to TCJA it needs to create or revise more than 400 taxpayer forms, instructions and publications for the … Continue reading Hot off the Press: IRS User-Friendly Guides Explain TCJA Basics →