What You Need to Know About US Expat Tax Returns While Living in Qatar

Qatar has one of the largest natural gas reserve in the world. As a result, it has attracted foreigners from all over the world.

If you are planning to become a U.S. expat in Qatar, or have been one for a while, it’s important to know the tax laws of Qatar and the potential impact on your U.S. tax return. Expat taxes can be complicated. Fortunately, we have outlined the key points below.

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Taxation in Qatar

Qatar does not levy personal income taxes on employee earnings. In addition, the government does not levy any social security taxes.

The applicable income tax rates are:

• Employment Income: None;
• Maximum corporate tax rate of 10% (includes businesses as professionals)
• Taxation on Interests: None
• Taxation on Dividends: None
• Taxation on Capital Gains: None

How Living in Qatar Impacts US Taxes

As a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Greencard), you are required to file U.S. taxes even if you live in Qatar. Plus, if you have assets in foreign financial accounts (e.g., foreign banks), there are informational reports you may be required to file. For example, U.S. Expats Living in Qatar with $10,000 or more in foreign banks must file the FBAR (now known as FinCen 114).

Fortunately, the U.S. government provides various forms of tax relief that can lower or eliminate U.S. tax obligations

• The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion – It allows you to exclude a certain amount of income earned outside the U.S.
• The Foreign Housing Exclusion/Deduction – This one relates to additional income that can be excluded for household-related expenses tied to living abroad.
• The Foreign Tax Credit – It allows you to offset foreign taxes paid against U.S. tax obligations.

In most cases, the foreign earned income exclusion is preferable to the foreign tax credit if you live in a country with a lower tax rate than the U.S. (assuming your income is not above the applicable threshold). However, it’s a good idea to speak with an expat tax specialist to discuss the best application of these tax reliefs.

FATCA and Qatar

The U.S. government is increasingly interested in knowing about the foreign assets held by its citizens and residents. As a result, it has been busy inking deals with other countries whereby foreign financial institutions (FFIs) will be required to:

• Identify accounts of U.S. persons;
• Report certain information to the IRS regarding those accounts;
• Withhold a 30% tax on certain payments to non-participating FFIs and account holders unwilling to provide the required information

As of the publication of this article, roughly 80 countries have either signed intergovernmental agreements with the United States or are in discussions. It is important to know that Qatar does have a FATCA agreement in-place with the U.S.

If you have any questions regarding your U.S. expat taxes, contact us today. We are here to help.