Tax Treaties For US Expats

US Tax Treaties

The US has signed tax treaties with around 100 other countries, however almost all of them contain what is called a Savings Clause, which means that American expats are still required to file US taxes every year.

Do Tax Treaties Stop Double Taxation?

For most expats, the answer is no, due to the Savings Clauses, US tax treaties don’t prevent double taxation. To avoid double taxation, instead expats must claim one or more IRS exemptions when they file their federal tax return.

US-UK Tax Treaty Rules: What Expats Must Know

US-UK tax treaty

If you’re an American living in the UK, knowing about the US-UK tax treaty is essential. This agreement between the US and the United Kingdom offers some major tax benefits for Americans living and working in the UK (and vice versa). But, with around 39 pages and tons of technical jargon, the treaty is far […]

Tax Treaty Benefits & Form 8833: What You Need to Know

Form 8833

As you may already know, moving abroad doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for US taxes. All American citizens and permanent residents who earn above the reporting threshold must file (and pay) US taxes. If they’re also subject to taxes in a foreign country, they may find themselves reporting same income twice — that’s where […]

How Totalization Agreements Affect US Expat Taxes

Totalization agreements US expat taxes

Are you an American citizen, resident, or green card holder about to move overseas? You’ll need to consider Social Security requirements and whether your new home country has a Totalization Agreement— especially if you’re a self-employed expat who intends to continue to work as self-employed while living and working abroad. In this article, we will […]

What American Expats Need to Know About Totalization Agreements

expat with totalization agreement

Americans who move abroad are required to keep filing US taxes, reporting their worldwide income. They may also have to continue paying US social security contributions, including self-employed expats who earn as little as $400 a year. Expats who meet tax residency criteria in a foreign country may also have to pay foreign taxes and […]

Senate Ratifies Updates To Tax Treaties

Senate Ratifies Updates to Tax Treaties

On July 16th and 17th, the Senate approved updates to the International Tax Treaties the US has with Spain, Japan, Switzerland and Luxembourg. These updates, or protocols, were agreed with the respective countries nearly a decade ago, with the delay in their ratification largely due to the efforts of a single senator, Paul Rand, who has […]

Taxes for Expats – The US – China Tax Treaty

The US - China Tax Treaty Great Wall

The US-China tax treaty was signed in 1984 and came into effect in 1987. Unlike many other US tax treaties, it hasn’t been updated since or added to since.  The purpose of the treaty is to prevent double taxation for Americans living in China and Chinese citizens living in the US. The principle way it […]

Do Tax Treaties Protect Expats from Double Taxation?

Double taxation is often one of US expats’ chief concerns before moving abroad. While living in a foreign country may mean paying taxes in two countries, there are ways to avoid this. US tax treaties are often one of the first methods expats think of, but unfortunately, Americans abroad typically don’t benefit from most of […]