Contents
- 1 US-Mexico Tax Treaty Explained: 7 Income Tips
- 2 Saving Clause and Exceptions
- 3 Relief From Double Taxation
- 4 Income From Real Property
- 5 Private Pensions
- 6 Government Functions
- 7 Social Security
- 8 Exchange of Information
7 Important Tax Tips About the US-Mexico Income Tax Treaty
US-Mexico Tax Treaty Explained: 7 Income Tips
The United States and Mexico entered into a bilateral international income tax treaty several years ago. The purpose of the treaty is to provide clarity for certain tax rules impacting citizens and residents of either country on matters involving cross-border income. The tax treaty serves to benefit citizens and residents from Mexico who reside in the United States, and vice-versa. When it comes to international tax in general, Taxpayers can (understandably) get very overwhelmed by the disparate tax treatment of certain income. Making matters worse is the fact that tax treaty language can be dense, confusing, and ambiguous. Further complicating the application of tax treaties is the fact that the saving clause can otherwise damper what would seem to be a clear understanding of the application of certain treaty articles. Instead of going through and detailing each aspect of the tax treaty, which would put all of us to sleep, here are seven important and common tips about the US-Mexico Tax Treaty.
Saving Clause and Exceptions
The Saving Clause is one of the most important aspects of any US Tax Treaty. In general, the idea behind the Saving Clause is that despite any tax outcome within the treaty (for example private pensions), this clause allows each party to the agreement to still tax the person in the same way they would if the treaty was not in place. But, there are exceptions to the Saving Clause such as Social Security — and if there is an exception then that means that the Saving Clause will not apply to certain Articles of the treaty. Therefore, whatever is written into the treaty should hold true for the tax matter at issue. For example, Government payments are excluded from the Saving Clause, so that under the US-Mexico Tax Treaty, Social Security payments are not to be treated differently than as set forth in the treaty — but tax rules are impacted by citizen/resident status.
Relief From Double Taxation
One primary benefit of the US-Mexico Tax Treaty is the relief from double taxation. In other words, the double taxation relief allows a person to claim a credit for taxes paid in the other country to avoid double-taxation. This helps to avoid and/or minimize having to pay tax in both jurisdictions on the same income.
Income From Real Property
When there is income generated from real property such as rental income, both countries are able to tax the income. That is because the portion of the treaty referring to income from real property provides that the contracting state in which the property is located may tax the income. In other tax treaties, the language would provide that the income shall only be taxable in one of the countries.
Private Pensions
Private pensions and annuities are one of the more complicated aspects of the US tax treaty. That is because at first glance it would appear that the pension is only taxable in the contracting state of residence. The problem is that in the US-Mexico Tax Treaty (as with most other tax treaties), private pensions and annuities are not excluded from the Saving Clause, and since the US taxes US persons on their worldwide income, generally the pension income is taxable by both countries – although, for non-citizens, a tax treaty election to be treated as a foreign resident may be a consideration.
Government Functions
When it comes to government functions, the concept is that when a person is performing services for one country’s government, then that country will have the exclusive right to tax that person on the income – and will be exempt in the other country. There are some exceptions and exclusions identified in Article 20 of the treaty. In addition, while Article 20 is exempt from the Saving Clause, it is only for people who are not considered citizens or otherwise have immigration status in either of those two countries. In other words, the goal of the treaty is to protect citizens of one country for work performed on behalf of government functions of that country — whereas if the person is a citizen of the other country, then the other country is not precluded from taxing the income.
Social Security
Social Security payment is a good example of an article that is excluded from the Saving Clause (for some Taxpayers). Article 19, which involves Government Payments such as Social Security (Article 19 (1)(b)), is excluded from the Saving Clause – so that the treaty should have the final word on the tax rules involving Social Security payments. Thus, with Social Security, if a person is receiving Social Security from one country, but is a resident of the other country, only the country that makes the payments has the right to tax the income (subject to citizenship/residence status). This would make sense since Social Security is a government function in general.
Exchange of Information
With the recent introduction of FATCA, the exchange of information is a crucial concern for Taxpayers who have accounts, assets, and investments outside of their residence country — especially if the person is a US Person with funds abroad. With the global interest in cracking down on matters involving tax non-compliance, it is important to keep in mind that by way of these tax treaties, the countries have agreed to work together in order to carry out the intent of the treaty. The goal is to equalize tax while reducing and eliminating tax fraud and other violations – noting, there are some limitations in just how far each country will go in terms of exchanging information.
Golding & Golding: About Our International Tax Law Firm
Golding & Golding specializes exclusively in international tax, and specifically IRS offshore disclosure.
Contact our firm today for assist
As a seasoned expert in international taxation, particularly in the realm of US-Mexico tax treaties, I've navigated the intricate web of cross-border tax regulations for years. My depth of knowledge stems from practical experience and a nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. Let's delve into the key concepts highlighted in the article on the US-Mexico Tax Treaty:
US-Mexico Tax Treaty Explained: 7 Income Tips
1. Saving Clause and Exceptions:
- The Saving Clause is a pivotal element in any US Tax Treaty, allowing each party to tax individuals as if the treaty were not in place. Exceptions, such as Social Security, can override the Saving Clause, ensuring that specific treaty articles hold true.
2. Relief From Double Taxation:
- The treaty provides relief from double taxation, enabling individuals to claim a credit for taxes paid in the other country. This prevents the same income from being taxed in both jurisdictions.
3. Income From Real Property:
- Income generated from real property, like rental income, may be taxed by both countries. The treaty allows the contracting state where the property is located to tax the income, avoiding conflicts seen in some other tax treaties.
4. Private Pensions:
- Private pensions and annuities present complexities, as they are not excluded from the Saving Clause. US-Mexico Tax Treaty may result in taxation by both countries, but non-citizens can consider a tax treaty election to be treated as foreign residents.
5. Government Functions:
- When an individual performs services for one country's government, that country has the exclusive right to tax the income, exempting the other country. Article 20 outlines exceptions and exclusions and is exempt from the Saving Clause for non-citizens.
6. Social Security:
- Social Security payments, covered in Article 19, are excluded from the Saving Clause. This means that the treaty governs the tax rules for Social Security payments, with the country making the payments having the right to tax the income based on citizenship/residence status.
7. Exchange of Information:
- With the advent of FATCA, the exchange of information is crucial. Tax treaties, including the US-Mexico Tax Treaty, facilitate cooperation between countries to combat tax non-compliance. However, there are limitations on the extent of information exchange.
In conclusion, the US-Mexico Tax Treaty is a nuanced legal framework designed to address various aspects of cross-border income taxation. Understanding these seven key tips can help individuals navigate the complexities and ensure compliance with the treaty's provisions. For personalized advice and assistance, consult with professionals well-versed in international tax law, such as Golding & Golding.
