What happens to my IRA if I leave the US?
For 2019 and 2020, traditional and Roth IRA rules state Americans may contribute up to $6,000 per year or $7,000 for Americans over the age of 50. The IRA distribution rules for U.S. citizens living abroad are the same as they are for citizens living stateside.
Nothing happens to your Roth IRA if you move abroad. The funds will still grow tax-free, and all the same required minimum distribution rules apply once you reach retirement age. The only thing that could change when you move abroad is your ability to contribute more money to a Roth IRA.
An IRA is an account you can set up on your own as opposed to a 401(k) which is sponsored by your employer. As noted above, you can rollover your 401(k) to an IRA once you leave your employer. If you decide to pursue this route, you can opt to rollover your funds to either a traditional IRA or Roth IRA.
If you do choose to transfer funds from a U.S. Qualified Plan to a foreign retirement plan, it will be neither be tax free nor will it count as a qualified rollover. This means moving your 401(k) to an international fund will result in U.S. tax liability and possibly the 10% penalty for an early withdrawal.
If you were to close your account and take a distribution, you'd be liable for the early distribution penalty. If you close your IRA as part of giving up US citizenship before reaching 59 1/2, you will pay a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty in addition to income tax on the amount withdrawn.
U.S. expat brokerage account restrictions vary between brokerage firms. Some firms will let you keep your existing brokerage account once you have moved overseas but will not permit clients to open a new brokerage account due to residency in a foreign country.
The important thing to remember is that US retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401ks typically cannot be moved to an equivalent account in a different country without distributing the accounts for tax purposes and paying US income tax and possibly early withdrawal penalties.
Early 401(k) and IRA withdrawals for expats
If you choose to withdrawal funds from an IRA or 401(k) before your funds have matured (generally, before you're 59 ½) you will pay a tax on it—regardless of if you're living in the U.S. or outside of it.
When it comes to early retirement account withdrawals, the rules are the same for both U.S.residents and nonresident aliens. Your entire 401(k) withdrawal will be taxed as income by the U.S. even if you're back in your home country when you withdraw the funds.
You can elect to have received a full payout on the day before you renounce, and are taxed accordingly on your US tax return, or you can elect to forego tax treaty benefits on these items and your retirement income will be taxed at a flat 30% tax rate when distributed.
Can a non US citizen have an IRA?
IRA participation rules
A non-U.S. citizen legally working and living in the country can also open an IRA. There's the option of a Roth or a traditional IRA. This can be your sole retirement account. Or you can open an IRA in addition to a 401(k).
For amounts below $5000, the employer can hold the funds for up to 60 days, after which the funds will be automatically rolled over to a new retirement account or cashed out. If you have accumulated a large amount of savings above $5000, your employer can hold the 401(k) for as long as you want.
You can buy property in another country using IRA or 401(k) funds if the property is an investment, not a personal vacation home. This unconventional retirement plan investment is typically made with a self-directed IRA or a solo 401(k).
Drawbacks of being a dual citizen include the potential for double taxation, the long and expensive process for obtaining dual citizenship, and the fact that you become bound by the laws of two nations.
When you renounce citizenship, you lose the right to live and work in the U.S. You will not be able to vote in U.S. elections. You will not be entitled to the protection of the United States overseas. You will no longer be able to enter the U.S. and remain indefinitely.
Aside from reducing the monetary burden of taxation, renouncing will also reduce the filing burden that all US citizens face. You will no longer have to file a US tax return, fill out Form 5471 for foreign companies, or report your foreign bank accounts with the FBAR form.
If you plan to stay outside of the United States for more than one year but less than two years, you will need a re-entry permit for readmission. You must be physically present in the United States when you file the Form I-131 to apply for the permit.
Yes, a U.S. citizen living abroad can have both a traditional and/or Roth IRA. The restrictions only come with making contributions—so, if you had an existing IRA before you moved abroad, you don't have to get rid of it or transfer assets, but you may not be able to add to it while you're overseas.
No. Unfortunately, we do not open accounts for any new customers residing outside the United States.
IRA participation rules
A non-U.S. citizen legally working and living in the country can also open an IRA. There's the option of a Roth or a traditional IRA. This can be your sole retirement account. Or you can open an IRA in addition to a 401(k).
Is tax withheld on IRA for foreign non resident citizen?
In the absence of a tax treaty exemption, nonresident aliens, nonresident alien beneficiaries, and foreign estates generally are subject to a 30% withholding tax under section 1441 on an IRA distribution. However, most tax treaties provide that IRA distributions are exempt from withholding tax.
You could contribute to an individual IRA (Traditional or ROTH), or set up a retirement account for your company, like a SIMPLE IRA or Self-Employed Plan (SEP). By setting up a retirement plan for your small business, you would be able to contribute as an employee in addition to an additional 'employer' amount.
In determining the maximum contribution to your IRA, you must add back the $21,760 of excluded foreign earned income to your compensation includible in your gross income or the modified adjusted gross income. Other modifications may also be required in determining the IRA limits.
