Treaties

Australian Superannuation is the single most-contested cross-border tax issue in the world. Plus the 50% CGT discount, the Medicare Levy + Surcharge, totalization mechanics, and the departure-tax trap when leaving Australian residency.

Canada is the friendliest country for Americans abroad on tax — the U.S.–Canada treaty handles RRSPs and Social Security cleanly, totalization eliminates double FICA, and FTC nearly always wins. But TFSAs and RESPs are still PFIC traps.

France's high marginal rate plus the now-creditable CSG/CRDS make FTC the clear winner. But Assurance-vie wrappers, the PER retirement plan, French wealth tax on real estate (IFI), and the new PRIIPs restrictions all need careful handling.

Germany's high effective tax rate makes the Foreign Tax Credit the obvious play — but Riester pensions, the church tax, and German broker fund holdings each have specific U.S. tax angles. Here's the country-specific guide.

Japan's high marginal tax rate makes FTC the clear pick — but NISA / iDeCo / 投資信託 are full PFIC traps. Plus the Year 5 worldwide-income switch for long-stay residents, and the resident-tax timing trap nobody tells you about.

Mexico has more Americans than any other country abroad — and the tax math is different from Europe. Lower income tax often favors FEIE over FTC, but no totalization agreement means self-employed expats get hit with both U.S. SE tax and IMSS. Plus fideicomiso reporting.

Singapore's low income tax and zero capital gains tax make it one of the few places where FEIE clearly beats FTC. But the no-totalization gap means self-employed Americans pay full U.S. SE tax, and the housing exclusion is more valuable here than almost anywhere.

Korea's progressive income tax + 종합소득세 + the 183-day rule + 국민연금 totalization. Plus why most Korean retail investment products are PFICs, and how the Year-5 worldwide-income switch (just like Japan) works in Korea.

Spain's Beckham Law gives qualifying new arrivals a flat 24% rate for 6 years — but most Americans still owe full U.S. tax with FTC on top. Plus wealth tax (Patrimonio + Solidaridad), autonomous-community succession variation, and the Spanish digital nomad visa angle.

The U.S.–UK tax treaty handles most income types cleanly — but the ISA, the SIPP, and the high effective UK tax rate make the FTC the right play for almost everyone. Plus the National Insurance / Social Security totalization mechanics.