While it is nearly impossible for a US citizen to escape the long arm of the IRS, it is possible to avoid paying income tax thanks to some very advantageous rules built into the US tax code. The most popular is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and in this article I explain how it works.

How it works

U.S. citizens and residents are taxed on their worldwide income regardless of where they actually reside. However, if certain conditions are met, it is possible to exclude up to around 100000$ in foreign earnings (adjusted annually for inflation, 102100$ for 2017). In addition, it is also possible to exclude or deduct certain foreign housing amounts. The FEIE applies on an individual basis and each person in a married couple can claim up the full amount (each have to qualify individually though).

As its name implies, the FEIE only applies to “earned income”. This includes salaries, wages, commissions, bonuses, professional fees and tips. This excludes dividends, interests, capital gains, gambling winnings, alimony, social security benefits, pensions, annuities, business profits, royalties, rents and scholarships. Contrary to popular belief, your employer/clients can be in the United States. It is YOU who has be abroad.

Important to note: if you are a professional or an independent contractor, you will still have to pay the self-employment taxes (up to 15.3%).

Who qualifies

There are three points to take into consideration. Firstly, your tax home must be outside of the United States. If you travel constantly or live abroad for most of the year you have that covered as the IRS considers it to be where you physically are. Secondly, you must perform the work for which you claim the FEIE outside of the United States. You also have that covered if you travel or live abroad. Thirdly, you need to pass the Physical Presence Test OR the Bona Fide Residence Test. This is the tricky part and here’s how it works:

Physical Presence Test

To qualify using the PPT you need to spend at least 330 days during a period of 12 consecutive months OUTSIDE the United States. The 330 days do not have to be consecutive. It is important to note that the 12 months do not have to cover an entire tax year.

Bona Fide Residence Test

To qualify using the Bona Fide Residence Test, you must move to a foreign country for an indefinite amount of time and set up permanent quarters there. It is important to note that a Bona Fide Residence is not the same thing as a domicile. The main advantage of using the BFRT to qualify is that you can travel to the United States for more than 330 days every year and still claim FEIE.

Related IRS forms

FEIE (Form 2555) – Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad (Publication 54)

Tax expert – taxesforexpats.com

Taxes for Expats is a women-owned tax preparation firm that focuses on Americans living abroad. With over 25 years experience and clients in 170 countries around the world, they’d make an ideal partner for your US tax filing needs. Taxesforexpats.com