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International & Expat

Foreign Tax Credit (§901) for High-Tax-Country Expats

Dollar-for-dollar credit for foreign income taxes paid — no cap, no phase-out.

Overview

IRC §901 grants a dollar-for-dollar credit against US tax for foreign income tax paid to a qualifying country. Better than §911 exclusion for high-earners in high-tax countries (UK, Germany, France, Australia, Canada). No income cap. Passive-basket vs general-basket rules apply. Combine with treaty tie-breakers for dual residents. Excess FTC carries forward 10 years.

Best fit
Expats in high-tax jurisdictionsDual citizens with foreign employerDigital nomads in FR/DE/UK/AU
Estimated impact
100% credit for foreign tax paid = potential $0 US tax

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