Taxing the Global Worker: Three Spheres of International Social Security Coordination
47 Pages Posted: 25 May 2006
Abstract
Social security is a fundamental part of workers' lives in three spheres: contributions are required, benefits are hoped for, and taxes on benefits may have to be paid. If a worker splits a career between several countries, each of these three spheres is affected. The United States has sought international coordination through a combination of treaties and executive agreements that address the three spheres in various ways. The result is a group of overlapping and potentially dueling agreements that may raise interpretational issues and create uncertainty for workers and administrators. This article argues that international social security coordination could be improved and possibly expanded through a clearer delineation of the spheres in existing and future international agreements.
Keywords: taxation, social security, international, global, labor, payroll
JEL Classification: H55, K33, K34, E62, H24
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation