US Global Tax Talk About Ever Growing Number of Enquiries About Renunciations

US Global Tax are receiving an increasing volume of enquiries about the renunciaton of US citizenship, from US citizens overseas. Whilst this is still not common among US expats, it has increased dramatically since FATCA laws were introduced in 2009. The renunciation of US Citizenship can have serious potential tax consequences, and is a very personal decision.

Once you have made the decision you wish to renounce your US citizenship, US Global Tax say you need to consider the tax implications. The extent of any additional tax liability and the method of its calculation are dependent upon whether you are defined as a “Covered Expatriate.” If not, you are simply assessed for US tax return filing through the preparation of annual and final tax returns.

Once you are so defined, then you are subject to an additional tax liability on the increase in value of your “property” (capital gains) using a revaluation methodology called “Mark to Market” at the day prior to renouncing your US citizenship. Essentially, your property is revalued to market value as at the day before renouncing your US citizenship and you are assessed on the gains as though they are realised.

If  you were renouncing in 2015, you are considered to meet the definition of Covered Expatriate if your average tax payable for the last five years is US$160,000 or more, or the total market value of your property is US$2 million or more, or other as defined, and subject to specific exceptions as defined. To renounce you must be compliant from both an IRS and FATCA perspective, in that you have filed your last five years’ tax returns and your last six years’ FBARs.

If you are currently not compliant from an IRS and FATCA perspective, it may be worth considering achieving compliance via streamlined filing (three years tax returns and six years FBARs) as this provides a window of two years being IRS and FATCA compliant in which you can make the decision to renounce or not.

The above is a relatively simplistic guide, and if you are seriously considering renouncing your US Citizenship it is recommended you contact the team at US Global Tax in New Zealand to ascertain the requirements as they relate to your specific circumstances, so for more information US expat taxes on please go to http://usglobaltax.com/ .