Source: http://www.citizenshipsolutions.ca/2015/04/03/part-3-the-exit-tax-affects-covered-expatriates-what-is-a-covered-expatriate/
Timestamp: 2016-05-29 11:29:28
Document Index: 461718279

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 6', 'art 5', 'art 2', 'art 8', 'art 2', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 3', 'art 11']

Part 3 – “The “Exit Tax” affects “covered expatriates” – what is a “covered expatriate”?” | Citizenship Counselling For U.S. Citizens in Canada and Abroad
Leave a reply	This is Part 3 of a 9 part series on the Exit Tax.
Part 3 – The “Exit Tax” affects “covered expatriates” – what is a “covered expatriate”?
2. Who is subject to the “Exit Tax” and why?
3. What are the consequences of being subject to the Exit Tax?
Issue B – Okay, I’m a “Covered Expatriate” How am I affected by the Exit Tax?
4. How the Exit Tax is calculated in general – what is subject to the “Exit Tax” – to be discussed in Post 4
5. How the Exit Tax is likely to affect Americans abroad – Five scenarios – to be discussed in Post 5
Please note that this discussion assumes that one has relinquished U.S. citizenship under the “Immigration and Nationality Act” after June 16, 2008 (the date that the Exit Tax provisions became law). Different rules can apply to expatriations prior to June 16, 2008. See this summary which comes from the IRS site:
irs.gov/Individuals/International-Taxpayers/Expatriation-Tax
Issue A – Who is affected by the Exit Tax – What is a “covered expatriate”? Only “covered expatriates” are subject to the “Exit Tax”
The provisions of the Internal Revenue Code that matter are:
– S. 7701(a)(50) which means that one is a U.S. citizen until one satisfies the requirements of S. 877A(g)(4)
– S. 877A which provides the framework for the Exit Tax
– S. 877(a)(2) which defines the meaning of “Covered Expatriate”
– S. 2801 which imposes taxes on the recipient of a gift or bequest from a Covered Expatriate
Those relinquishing U.S. citizenship are either “expatriates” (who are NOT subject to the Exit Tax provisions) or “covered expatriates” who are subject to the Exit Tax provisions.
The key question is what triggers “covered expatriate status”. The answer depends on whether you were born ONLY a U.S. citizen or whether you were born a “dual citizen” and are a resident of and subject to taxation in your country of residence/second citizenship. Those who relinquish before the age of 181/2 receive preferred treatment.
There appear to be four categories of people who “relinquish” U.S. citizenship and become “expatriates”:
(i) Born ONLY a U.S. citizen and relinquish over the age of 181/2:
You will be a “covered expatriate” if you meet any one of the following three tests:
– Too much income – based on your U.S. tax liability (average of approximately $155,000 (which is indexed to inflation) per year for the preceding five years;
– Too many assets – net worth of only 2 million (which is NOT indexed to inflation) U.S. dollars. Note that through inflation or fluctuations in the U.S. exchange rate, people will become “covered expatriates”
– Tax compliance test – not U.S. tax compliant (meeting the requirements of Title 26) for each of the 5 years preceding the year of relinquishment
Conclusion: Hang on for the ride. You will see how the “Exit Tax” has its most disastrous effects on those born in the U.S., are older than 181/2, are NOT born dual citizens, and who left the U.S. to make a life elsewhere. The longer you live outside the United States the worse the “Exit Tax” is likely to be.
(ii) Born a U.S. citizen who relinquishes prior to the age of 18 1/2:
You will be a “covered expatriate” only if you fail to certify that you have been U.S. tax compliant for the 5 years preceding your relinquishment AND you have lived in the United States for not more than 10 years.
Conclusion: Nice to keep in mind for your children. This is extremely important for children who are the beneficiaries of wealth (often trusts). This is probably a good reason for wealthy children to be “whisked out of the United States” at a very young age. Saving the “family fortune” may depend on it.
(iii) Born a U.S./Canadian dual citizen and living in Canada, who has NOT lived in the U.S. for more than 10 of the 15 years preceding the year of “relinquishment” (or substitute your country of second citizenship):
You will be a “covered expatriate” only if you fail to certify that you have been U.S. tax compliant for the 5 years preceding your relinquishment
Conclusion: It pays to have had the good luck to have been born a dual citizen (which is nothing but an accident of location of birth or citizenship of your parent(s)). “Oh Canada, my home and native land …”
(iv) Born a U.S./Canadian dual citizen, who is over the age of 18 1/2, and who is NOT living in Canada on the date of the relinquishment
You will be a “covered expatriate” and treated as one who was born ONLY a U.S. citizen who is over the age of 18 1/2. In other words the same as category (i) above.
Conclusion: Dual citizens who plan to relinquish U.S. citizenship should consider where they are residing when they relinquish. Some people return home to die. Some people return home to relinquish U.S. citizenship.
– you will be subject to the Exit Tax rules and will have to pay the United States a tax <strong>(in addition to <del>taxes</del> costs of U.S. tax compliance and the $2350 renunciation fee charged by the U.S. government to renounce U.S. citizenship)
– any gift that you give to a “U.S. person” will be subject to a 40% tax payable by the recipient of the gift (in other words you can’t give or will anything to an American relative)
– you will carry the stigma of being a “covered expatriate”. There are a number of U.S. politicians who do NOT like “covered expatriates” and have threatened punitive legislation.
@USCitizenAbroad pic.twitter.com/94OTb21WeQ
— U.S. Expat Canada (@USExpatCanada) March 7, 2015
This has been Part 3 – “The “Exit Tax” affects “covered expatriates” – what is a “covered expatriate”?”
On April 4, 2015 I will post:Part 4 – “You are a “covered expatriate” How the “Exit Tax” is actually calculated”
Analysis: Ted Cruz’s Proposal to Abolish the IRS
Markup of the Estate Tax Repeal and Select IRS Provisions
House Considers Bill To Stop IRS Targeting, Fire IRS Employees Who Do
Related PostsPart 6 – “Surely, expatriation is NOT worse than death! The two million asset test should be raised to the Estate Tax limitation – approximately five million dollars – It’s Time”Renouncing US citizenship? How the S. 877A “Exit Tax” may apply to your Canadian assets – 22 PartsTales of renouncing citizenship: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and London Mayor Boris JohnsonPart 5 – “The “Exit Tax” in action – Five actual scenarios with 5 actual completed U.S. tax returns.”Part 2 – Understanding “Exit Taxes” in a system of residence based taxation vs. Exit Taxes in a system of “citizenship (place of birth) taxationPart 8 – “The U.S. “Exit Tax vs. Canada’s Departure Tax – citizenship taxation vs. residence taxation”
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged covered expatriate, exit tax, S. 877, S. 877A on April 3, 2015 by admin.	Post navigation
← Part 2 – Understanding “Exit Taxes” in a system of residence based taxation vs. Exit Taxes in a system of “citizenship (place of birth) taxation
Part 4 – “You are a “covered expatriate” – How the “Exit Tax” is actually calculated” →
@ExpatriationlawMy Tweets	Recent Posts	Evolution of process of relinquishing US citizenship in Canada – Form 4079 no longer used
Recent Commentssraider on Physical presence as a necessary condition for being a US “resident” under the Internal Revenue Codebadger on Part 3: What God Hath Wrought – The #FATCA Inquisition (Review, Identify and Report on “U.S. Persons”) – “Active or passive NFFE”?badger on Part 3: What God Hath Wrought – The #FATCA Inquisition (Review, Identify and Report on “U.S. Persons”) – “Active or passive NFFE”?PastBeyond60 on Part 11: What God Hath Wrought – The #FATCA Inquisition (Review, Identify and Report on “U.S. Persons”) – But reciprocity?Dash1729 on Are Green Card holders resident outside the USA “US persons” under the #FATCA IGA?Archives	May 2016