Ask Experts Questions for FREE Help!
 

Free Answers in 3 Easy Steps

Register Now
3 Steps
 


Ask QuestionsprogressAnswer QuestionsprogressBuild ReputationprogressBecome an Expert
 
At Ask Me Help Desk you can ask questions in any topic and have them answered for free by our experts. To ask questions or participate in answering them you must register for a free account. By registering you will be able to:
  • Get free answers from experts in any of our 300+ topics.
  • Accept money for answers that you provide.
  • Communicate privately with other members (PM).
  • See fewer ads.
  Answer this Question    Ask about Taxes    Ask about another Subject  
 

Maggiepie
Apr 3, 2009, 07:33 AM
My husband and I sold our house in Germany and moved to the US. We had to pay taxes on the sale in Germany. Do we have to pay taxes in the US? I am a US Citizen but my husband is German.

IntlTax
Apr 3, 2009, 06:40 PM
In general, as a U.S. citizen you are taxed on your worldwide income. Gains recognized on foreign sales must be included on your U.S. tax return. However, if you lived in the home as your principal residence for 2 of the last 5 years, then you can exclude up to $250,000 of gain on the sale. If you file a joint tax return with your husband for 2008, he can also exclude up to $250,000 of gain.

MukatA
Apr 3, 2009, 07:28 PM
Yes, you must report sale on schedule D. You may be able to exclude the gain as explained by IntlTax. Read Read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Profit From the Sale of Your Home (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/03/profit-from-sale-of-your-home.html)

If you are unable to exclude the gain, then you will file Form 1116 to get foreign tax credit. Read: Your U.S. Tax Return: U.S. Citizen or Resident with Foreign Income (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/03/us-citizen-or-resident-with-foreign.html)

United States Treasury Regulation 31 CFR 103 require that every United States person file this form TD F 90-22.1 if at any time during the year, you have an interest in or a signature or other authority over a financial account in a foreign country, such as a bank account, securities account, or other financial account and the total amount at any time in the year was $10,000 or more. Mandatory Reporting of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) (http://mytaxes.in/index.php?topic=1.0)