What Happens if You Inherit Money from Another Country?
Suppose you inherited money from another country. Well, what happens next? If you’re an American citizen living in the United States or overseas, there may be several forms you have to fill out. Besides that, your responsibilities are few. That being said, knowing which forms to complete can be difficult.
Once you’ve inherited money from another country, it’s best to consult with an experienced accountant. A professional can assess the sum or value of an inheritance and advise you on which IRS Forms you need to complete. For example, IRS Forms 3520 and 8938 are common requirements when receiving an inheritance. In addition to reporting to the IRS, you may also need to report to other federal agencies. Though you might have to report the money you’ve inherited from another country, you probably won’t have to pay American taxes on it.
The CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help can let you know what happens if you inherit money from another country. For guidance on how to report a foreign inheritance, visit us online or call the CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help today at (541) 362-9127.
What Happens When You Inherit Money from Another Country?
Receiving an inheritance can become complicated quickly. Depending on your country of residence, you may have to navigate multiple tax codes. Regardless of where they live, American citizens must comply with the United States Tax Code when receiving an inheritance from another country.
So, what happens when you inherit money from another country? The first step is to determine whether or not you have to report it. Researching IRS regulations by yourself can be confusing; not every American citizen understands tax jargon. That’s why enlisting the help of a skilled accountant, like the CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help, is wise. A professional can assist you in navigating the required forms and help you adhere to the filing guidelines.
Inheriting a large sum of money can make you vulnerable to fines and penalties, should you fail to report it properly. If you do report the money you’ve inherited from another country correctly, that’s the end of the process. Your responsibility is to report it, if necessary. After that, you can enjoy your inheritance without worrying about penalties. That being said, knowing how and what to report isn’t always easy.
Do You Have to Report Money You Inherit from Another Country?
If you inherit money from a loved one from another country, you may have to report it. The IRS requires American citizens to report a foreign inheritance over a certain amount. So, if you’re an expatriate living overseas and have received an inheritance that is over the threshold, you must report it to the IRS. Depending on where you decide to hold the funds, you may also have to report an inheritance to another federal agency.
IRS Form 3520 applies to American citizens who have inherited over $100,000 from another country. Even expatriates who live abroad must report an inheritance over that sum to the IRS. The IRS requires you to report money that you’ve inherited for informational purposes. If the money you have inherited will remain in a foreign bank account because you’re an expatriate, you may also have to file other forms.
IRS Form 8938 compels American citizens to report their foreign financial assets if they exceed a certain amount. American expats must file Form 8938 if:
- they’re filing independently and their aggregate foreign financial assets exceed $200,000 on the final day of the tax year or were above $300,000 during the tax year, or
- they’re filing jointly and their aggregate foreign financial assets exceed $400,000 on the final day of the tax year or were above $600,000 during the tax year.
If the money you’ve inherited from another country is less than $100,000 or did not greatly increase your foreign financial assets, then you won’t have to report it to the IRS. That being said, you may have to report it to another federal agency. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) monitors American money overseas. If you transfer a foreign inheritance to an American bank account, you may have to complete FinCEN Form 104. You can always ask for the guidance of an experienced accountant, like the CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help. Properly reporting money you’ve inherited from another country is important so that you can avoid unnecessary fines and penalties.
Can the Money You Inherit from Another Country Be Taxed?
While you may have to report money that you’ve inherited from another country to the IRS or FinCEN, you may not have to pay taxes on it. The IRS doesn’t tax foreign inheritances, but individual states might. That being said, you may have to pay taxes on an inheritance if you live in another country.
Generally, the IRS doesn’t touch foreign inheritances. However, if you fail to report the money you’ve inherited from another country, you may incur fines. For each month that you fail to report your inheritance, you can be fined 5% of its sum. Those fines can add up quickly. Taxpayers can avoid penalties by working with experienced accountants, like the CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help. Paying fines on an inheritance can greatly reduce its sum.
When money is transferred from a foreign bank account to an American one, it can be taxed. That’s why it is important to report inherited money to the IRS. Of course, expatriates may no longer have American bank accounts as they live overseas. In that case, the IRS will not tax money you’ve inherited from another country. That being said, it is important to know the tax code of your current country of origin. Each nation has different laws regarding inheritances. For example, the America operates within a citizen-based taxation system. That means that all citizens, regardless of where they live, must remain compliant with the United States Tax Code.
Other countries can abide by the same tax system or by a residency-based taxation system. Regardless, you may be obliged to comply with the tax laws of your country of residence. It’s important to be aware of all tax codes that may apply to you when you inherit money from another country as an American expatriate.
Receiving an Inheritance as a “Gift” from Overseas
If you’ve recently received a foreign gift from a loved one overseas, you may be wondering what the implications are for you. Is there a limit on how much money you can receive, and what reporting requirements do you need adhere to?
Currently, there is no limit on how much money Americans can receive as a gift from overseas. There are, however, various reporting requirements. Any American who receives a foreign monetary gift that exceeds $100,000 will have to report that to the IRS. There are additional reporting requirements for American expatriates and those who hold financial gifts in foreign accounts. Failure to report foreign monetary gifts can result in steep financial penalties, so it’s important to have a tax CPA by your side to avoid such consequences.
Our experienced tax professionals can help properly report your foreign monetary gifts to the IRS. To learn more about how the tax accountants at US Tax Help can assist you, call today at (541) 362-9127.
Is There a Limit on How Much Money I Can Receive as a Gift from Overseas?
While there isn’t a limit on how much money you can receive from a foreign relative or loved one, you will have to report it to the IRS if you receive over a certain amount. This is important to know, especially if you have recently received an inheritance or a large sum from a friend across the pond.
If you received over $100,000 in gifts from a foreign person or estate in the past tax year, you’ll need to report it to the IRS. That doesn’t mean you can’t receive more than $100,000 per year from a foreign loved one, just that you need to report any additional funds.
Americans can use IRS Form 3520 to report this information, specifically Part IV of the form. Filing this form can get confusing, so it’s wise to consult an experienced tax accountant for help.
In order to claim your gift, the money needs to be transferred from a foreign bank account to a domestic one. This often requires Americans to complete Form 104 and submit it to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), an agency that exists to monitor American money overseas and prevent money laundering.
So, while there isn’t a limit on how much money you can receive as a gift from overseas, claiming your gift may require you to engage in some complicated paperwork. Instead of attempting to file the right forms by yourself, ask a skilled professional for help.
How Much Money Can I Receive as a Gift from Overseas Before I Have to Pay Taxes?
Generally speaking, Americans don’t have to pay taxes on monetary gifts from foreign persons. However, if the gift-giver is an American expatriate living overseas, or the gift was not solely cash, things can get a bit complicated.
If the person who gave you a monetary gift is not an American citizen or resident, you don’t have to worry about tax liability. That being said, some states impose taxes on monetary inheritances from an American living overseas, so it’s important to consult with a tax account for insight.
It’s also important to clarify whether or not the entirety of your gift is cash or if a portion of it is considered financial assets. When Americans hold foreign financial assets, they can have a tax liability to the IRS. So, there may be additional IRS reporting requirements for Americans who receive gifts of foreign financial assets.
Generally, monetary gifts from foreign persons given to American citizens are not taxable. However, it’s still wise to ask an experienced tax accountant for clarification regarding your specific situation. If you don’t, you may have a tax liability to the IRS that you’re unaware of.
What if I Live Overseas, am an American Citizen, and Receive a Foreign Monetary Gift?
If you live overseas and receive a monetary gift from a foreign friend, you may still have to report it to the IRS. The IRS closely monitors American money overseas, and if a monetary gift puts you over the threshold for certain reporting requirements, it’s vital that you oblige.
American expatriates may assume that they no longer have a tax liability to the IRS once they move overseas. In reality, that couldn’t be further from the truth. While there remains no cap on monetary gifts from foreign persons for expatriates, there may be some additional reporting requirements.
American expatriates with a certain amount of foreign financial assets need to file IRS Form 8938. If you put the monetary gift you received from a foreign friend into your bank account overseas, it may put you over the threshold for filing IRS Form 8938.
The same can be said regarding FinCEN Form 114. If you have a foreign bank account and depositing a foreign monetary gift puts your total accounts over $10,000, you’ll have to submit FinCEN Form 114.
What Happens if I Don’t Report My Foreign Monetary Gift to the IRS?
Failure to report foreign monetary gifts when required can result in steep financial penalties from the IRS and other agencies. This can greatly reduce the value of your overseas gift and result in serious consequences.
If you’re required to file IRS Form 3520 and fail to, you could face serious penalties. The IRS can impose a penalty of up to 25% of the total foreign monetary gift you received for failure to report. Similar penalties exist for failure to file IRS Form 8938.
FinCEN generally also imposes steep financial penalties on recipients of foreign gifts who fail to report. If you’re required to file FinCEN Form 114 and fail to, you could incur a penalty of $10,000 or half of the amount in your foreign bank account.
While there is no limit on how much money you can receive as a gift from overseas, there are severe consequences for failing to report such funds. Because of that, it is crucial that American taxpayers consult an experienced tax accountant if they receive a foreign monetary gift. The penalties for failure to report when necessary can have a profound financial impact on American gift recipients.
Our CPAs Can Tell You What Happens if You Inherit Money from Another Country
After inheriting money from another country, it’s important to know what comes next. Our team can make reporting a foreign inheritance easy. To learn more, the experienced CPAs for American expatriates at US Tax Help, visit our website or call today at (541) 362-9127.
