Outline of non-US domiciles
The following outline is provided as a topical overview of non-US domiciles:
These articles address Bogleheads® investing for individuals living and investing in countries other than the United States (US).
- For an introductory outline of this topic, see: Investing from outside of the US.
- For information on how to ask for advice on your portfolio, see: My portfolio: seeking advice.
- For a stepwise approach to your investing journey, see Bogleheads® investing start-up kit for non-US investors
Non-US domiciles applies to US nonresident aliens, and also to US citizens and US resident aliens (that is, green card holders) living outside the US. A nonresident alien is someone who is not a US citizen or resident. US citizens, resident aliens and residents are known collectively as US persons.
Before investing:
Pay special attention to the section on Tax issues highlighting the impact of US tax legislation even on investors domiciled outside of the US.
- For nonresident aliens: The US has harsh tax rules for US assets held by foreigners, some bordering on confiscatory. It taxes dividends paid by US stocks and US domiciled ETFs to foreigners at up to 30%, and may apply an estate tax of up to 40% on all US situated assets above a minimal $60,000 exemption. Be sure to understand how these tax rules will apply to you. If you need to avoid them, switch away from the usual US domiciled investments discussed among and used by US investors, and instead use equivalent investments domiciled in other countries, for example Ireland.
- For US persons: Uniquely among developed countries, the US taxes its citizens and permanent residents on their worldwide income whether they live in the US or outside. It has protectionist and draconian tax laws that dissuade US citizens and residents from holding non-US domiciled investments. Because of these, you must usually invest as if living in the US, and you effectively cannot use normal investments freely available to non-US persons living in the same country as you.
In both cases, take care to understand these tax rules and restrictions early on. This will help to avoid huge problems later.
Getting started
Introduction to investing from outside of the US
- Investing from outside of the US
- Bond basics for non-US investors
- Stock asset allocation for non-US investors
- Building a non-US Boglehead portfolio
Bogleheads® forum for non-US investors
Tax issues
Tax issues specific to nonresident aliens
- Nonresident alien's ETF domicile decision table: Decision table to help non-US investors choose between US domiciled ETFs and non-US domiciled ETFs
- Nonresident alien taxation: Summarizes how a US nonresident alien (NRA) is taxed when investing in US domiciled investment assets
- Nonresident alien with no US tax treaty & Irish ETFs: Shows why and when it may be better for non-US investors to invest in Ireland domiciled funds as opposed to a US domiciled funds
- Comparison of accumulating ETFs and distributing ETFs: Non-US investors often have a choice between funds that distribute dividends and ones that reinvest them immediately
Tax issues specific to US persons living outside the US
Currency issues
Investing in and from European Union countries
Introduction to investing in and from European Union countries
Belgium
Germany
Ireland
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
United Kingdom
United Kingdom specific to US persons living outside the US
Investing in and from non-European Union countries
Australia
Canada
Japan
Japan specific to US persons living outside the US
Taiwan
- Taiwan bond indexes
- Taiwan stock indexes
- Taiwan treasury bill rates
- List of Taiwan exchange traded funds
Pension fund performance studies
- Global (excluding US) pension fund performance
- Canadian pension fund performance
- Dutch pension fund performance
- Finnish pension fund performance
- Greek pension fund performance
- Hong Kong pension fund performance
- Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global performance
- Swiss pension fund performance
- Turkish pension fund performance