GTN Mobility Tax Blog

The US is one of the only countries to require its citizens and permanent residents (i.e., green card holders) to file annual tax returns and report their worldwide income, regardless of their actual work location. When working outside the United States, it is often the case that US persons are subject to taxation in the county where they are physically located.

All US citizens and permanent residents must file federal income tax returns if they meet the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) filing threshold. The size of this threshold will vary depending on factors such as age, filing status, and type of income (e.g., income from employment or self-employment). For example, a single individual under the age of 65 would be required to file a 2024 US federal income tax return if their gross income exceeded $14,600. If the earnings came from self-employment, this same person would need to file a US federal tax return if their net earnings exceeded $400.

This article was originally published in Mobility Magazine.

Corporate moves are surging. According to an Atlas Van Lines report, 70% of all companies reported an increase in employee relocations last year. Unfortunately, relocating employees in the US or abroad could require tax obligations that not all HR and mobility professionals are prepared for.

What’s more, many leaders often assume their relocation management company (RMC), mobility tax provider, or local payroll provider will automatically handle tax compliance for their domestic and international moves. That’s not always the case. This article will look at the common misconceptions about relocation tax compliance and lay out tips to help your team avoid tax violations and maximize tax savings for moving expenses.

This article was originally published in Corporate Compliance Insights. 

Return-to-office calls notwithstanding, many observers expect remote or hybrid work to continue to grow in popularity this year. GTN Director, Tracy Novotny, explores the tax and compliance implications corporate leaders need to know for 2024.

US social security tax is withheld from employees’ wages under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), which provides funding for the Social Security and Medicare programs. The goal of the Social Security program is to offer retirement, disability, and survivor’s benefits, whereas Medicare provides health insurance. 

Although many companies believe they have a good process in place to address the withholding of these taxes for their US-based employees that work in the US, it is critical that they review and understand the rules for their internationally mobile population. Through proper review and planning, companies can mitigate risks and may also achieve substantial cost savings.

It may seem counterintuitive to a US citizen or permanent resident (i.e., a green card holder) who has just taken a new international job, that most will still be required to file US federal income tax returns after relocating. In addition to filing income tax returns, mobile employees may also have other filing obligations including estate or gift tax returns, estimated tax payments, and foreign bank account reports.