Worldwide Taxation of U. S. Citizens Living Abroad: Impact of FATCA and Two Proposals

George Mason Journal of International Commercial Law, Forthcoming

Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2013-3057

32 Pages Posted: 30 Aug 2013 Last revised: 7 Sep 2013

See all articles by J. Richard (Dick) Harvey

J. Richard (Dick) Harvey

Villanova University School of Law and Graduate Tax Program

Date Written: March 1, 2013

Abstract

This article addresses several questions, including:       • Do US citizens living abroad face significant tax compliance burdens and have those burdens been further increased by FATCA?       • Do ultra-wealthy US citizens have an incentive to expatriate under current law, and should a deemed estate tax be imposed at the time of their expatriation?       • Does FATCA justify a change from a worldwide system of individual taxation to a residence-based system?       • Do the cumulative burdens on US citizens abroad justify legislative action?       • If so, what law changes should be considered?

The article concludes the answers to the first four questions are: (i) yes and yes, (ii) yes and yes, (iii) no, and (iv) yes. As to the fifth question, the article does not explicitly take a position on a worldwide vs. a residence-based system of taxation. Rather, two proposals are made. The first assumes Congress retains the existing worldwide tax system, while the second assumes Congress takes the unlikely step of adopting a residence-based tax system.

The goal of each proposal is to (i) reduce compliance burdens for citizens abroad, and (ii) minimize fairness and revenue issues. For example, if the US adopts a residence-based system, safeguards will clearly be necessary to avoid a material loss in tax revenue attributable to ultra-wealthy US citizens moving their residence abroad.

Keywords: US citizens abroad, expatriation, residence based taxation, FATCA, Internal Revenue Code sections 911 877A and 2801, worldwide taxation, estate tax, international tax planning

Suggested Citation

Harvey, J. Richard, Worldwide Taxation of U. S. Citizens Living Abroad: Impact of FATCA and Two Proposals (March 1, 2013). George Mason Journal of International Commercial Law, Forthcoming, Villanova Law/Public Policy Research Paper No. 2013-3057, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2318463

J. Richard Harvey (Contact Author)

Villanova University School of Law and Graduate Tax Program ( email )

299 N. Spring Mill Road
Villanova, PA 19085
United States
610-519-4474 (Phone)

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