yellowheader.jpg (3854 bytes)

McDowell CPA PC


Home

 

2006 Tax Changes for US Expatriates

"Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005"


The Act signed by the President on May 17, 2006 and effective from January 1, 2006 has the following effects fro Expatriates:

  • The foreign earned income exclusion is indexed for inflation from 2006 at $82,400(previously w.e.f. 2008)
  • The base for the housing allowance is changed and then limited to 30% of the foreign earned income exclusion at a maximum of $11,586 for 2006
  • The claimed foreign earned income exclusion is added back in calculating the marginal tax rates and will thus result in higher tax rates.

SEC. 515. MODIFICATION OF EXCLUSION FOR CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD of the "Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005"

    (a) Inflation Adjustment of Foreign Earned Income Limitation- Clause (ii) of section 911(b)(2)(D) (relating to inflation adjustment) is amended--
      (1) by striking `2007' and inserting `2005', and
      (2) by striking `2006' in subclause (II) and inserting `2004'.
    (b) Modification of Housing Cost Amount-
      (1) MODIFICATION OF HOUSING COST FLOOR- Clause (i) of section 911(c)(1)(B) is amended to read as follows:
          `(i) 16 percent of the amount (computed on a daily basis) in effect under subsection (b)(2)(D) for the calendar year in which such taxable year begins, multiplied by'.
      (2) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF EXCLUSION-
        (A) IN GENERAL- Subparagraph (A) of section 911(c)(1) is amended by inserting `to the extent such expenses do not exceed the amount determined under paragraph (2)' after `the taxable year'.
        (B) LIMITATION- Subsection (c) of section 911 is amended by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively, and by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph:
      `(2) LIMITATION-
        `(A) IN GENERAL- The amount determined under this paragraph is an amount equal to the product of--
          `(i) 30 percent (adjusted as may be provided under subparagraph (B)) of the amount (computed on a daily basis) in effect under subsection (b)(2)(D) for the calendar year in which the taxable year of the individual begins, multiplied by
          `(ii) the number of days of such taxable year within the applicable period described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (d)(1).
        `(B) REGULATIONS- The Secretary may issue regulations or other guidance providing for the adjustment of the percentage under subparagraph (A)(i) on the basis of geographic differences in housing costs relative to housing costs in the United States.'.
        (C) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS-
          (i) Section 911(d)(4) is amended by striking `and (c)(1)(B)(ii)' and inserting `, (c)(1)(B)(ii), and (c)(2)(A)(ii)'.
          (ii) Section 911(d)(7) is amended by striking `subsection (c)(3)' and inserting `subsection (c)(4)'.
    (c) Rates of Tax Applicable to Nonexcluded Income- Section 911 (relating to exclusion of certain income of citizens and residents of the United States living abroad) is amended by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g) and by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection:

    `(f) Determination of Tax Liability on Nonexcluded Amounts- For purposes of this chapter, if any amount is excluded from the gross income of a taxpayer under subsection (a) for any taxable year, then, notwithstanding section 1 or 55--

      `(1) the tax imposed by section 1 on the taxpayer for such taxable year shall be equal to the excess (if any) of--
        `(A) the tax which would be imposed by section 1 for the taxable year if the taxpayer's taxable income were increased by the amount excluded under subsection (a) for the taxable year, over
        `(B) the tax which would be imposed by section 1 for the taxable year if the taxpayer's taxable income were equal to the amount excluded under subsection (a) for the taxable year, and
      `(2) the tentative minimum tax under section 55 for such taxable year shall be equal to the excess (if any) of--
        `(A) the amount which would be such tentative minimum tax for the taxable year if the taxpayer's taxable excess were increased by the amount excluded under subsection (a) for the taxable year, over
        `(B) the amount which would be such tentative minimum tax for the taxable year if the taxpayer's taxable excess were equal to the amount excluded under subsection (a) for the taxable year.
    For purposes of this subsection, the amount excluded under subsection (a) shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of any deductions or exclusions disallowed under subsection (d)(6) with respect to such excluded amount.'.

    (d) Effective Date- The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2005.

 

   

Angus McDowell, McDowell CPA PC
410 Park Avenue, suite 1530, New York, NY 10022-9441

Telephone 1 212 949 1966 Fax 1 212 949 1494 e-mail angus@mcdowell.com
Copyright
2006