Rev. date: 1/1/2011
• U.S. citizens and resident aliens are taxed on
their worldwide income.
• Some taxpayers may qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion,
foreign housing exclusion, or foreign housing deduction, if:
o Their tax home is in a foreign country,
o They are U.S. citizens who are a bona fide
resident of a foreign country or countries for an uninterrupted period that
includes an entire tax year,
o They are U.S. resident aliens who are a
citizen or national of a country with which the United States has an income tax
treaty with a nondiscrimination article in effect and who is a bona fide
resident of a foreign country or countries for an uninterrupted period that
includes an entire tax year, or
o U.S. citizens and resident aliens who are
physically present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 full days
during any period of 12 consecutive months.
• The taxpayer may be able to claim a foreign tax credit if required
to pay a foreign income tax to the foreign country, if he or she has not elected
the foreign earned income exclusion with respect to that income.
• The taxpayer may also qualify to deduct away from home expenses
(for travel, meals, and lodging), but not against excluded income.