Unlike most countries, the U.S. taxes its citizens on all income, no matter where they live and where their income is earned. The current United States tax laws, because of requirements for reporting income, filing tax documentation, as well as the ensuing tax obligations, have made many Americans renounce their citizenship. Section 349(a)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act details a U.S. citizen’s right to voluntarily renounce his or her citizenship. Signing an oath of renunciation is an irrevocable act unless the individual is under the age of 18.
For Americans abroad, surviving in the world of FATCA and FBAR
In March, 2010, FATCA , or The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, was enacted by Congress to remedy a perceived growing problem with foreign banks facilitating and encouraging U.S. taxpayers to conceal assets in their financial institutions. Seventy-nine countries have since signed FATCA agreements with the IRS, which require the financial firms within each of the participating countries to report account data for accounts owned by U.S. taxpayers or face severe penalties.
Also, the IRS is now automatically exchanging digital financial account information with tax authorities in other countries.
YOU HAVE A FOREIGN ACCOUNT? MEET THE FBAR
If you have a financial interest in or signature authority over a foreign financial account, the Bank Secrecy Act may require you to report the account yearly. The Act requires that each qualifying taxpayer file a FBAR or Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts. The types of foreign financial accounts to which the Bank Secrecy Act applies this requirement includes a bank account, brokerage account, mutual fund, trust, or other type of foreign financial account, exceeding certain thresholds.