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{{Under construction|comment =Discussed in this {{Forum post|t=116091|title=Wiki (?) - Investing as an expat (US citizen living abroad)}}}}
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{{hatnote|[[File:Flag of the United States.svg.png|25px|border|link=]] [[File:Ambox globe.svg|20px|link=:Category:Non-US domiciles]] This article contains details that are '''particularly relevant to US citizens''' and '''US permanent residents''' (green card holders) living outside the US.}}


'''Passive Foreign Investment Companies''' (PFICs) are investment vehicles classified under U.S. Code: Title 26 - Internal Revenue Code,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26|title=U.S. Code: Title 26 - INTERNAL REVENUE CODE|publisher=Cornell University Law School|accessdate=January 1, 2017}}</ref> such as [[Mutual fund|mutual funds]], [[Exchange-traded fund|exchange-traded funds]] (ETFs), and [[Real estate investment trust| Real Estate Investment Trusts]] (REITs), which are not registered with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the U.S. Code,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1297|title=26 U.S. Code § 1297 - Passive foreign investment company||publisher=Cornell University Law School|accessdate=January 1, 2017}}</ref> the term “passive foreign investment company” means any foreign corporation if—
'''Passive Foreign Investment Companies''' (PFICs) are investment vehicles classified under U.S. Code: Title 26 - Internal Revenue Code,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26|title=U.S. Code: Title 26 - Internal Revenue Code|publisher=Cornell University Law School|accessdate=January 1, 2017}}</ref> such as [[Mutual fund|mutual funds]], [[Exchange-traded fund|exchange-traded funds]] (ETFs), and [[Real estate investment trust| Real Estate Investment Trusts]] (REITs), which are not registered with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the U.S. Code,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1297|title=26 U.S. Code § 1297 - Passive foreign investment company| publisher=Cornell University Law School| accessdate=January 1, 2017}}</ref> the term "passive foreign investment company" means any foreign corporation if—
# 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year is passive income, or
# 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year is passive income, or
# the average percentage of assets (as determined in accordance with subsection (e)) held by such corporation during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent.
# The average percentage of assets (as determined in accordance with subsection (e)) held by such corporation during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent.


Although the taxation on these under US law can be extremely unfavorable, and are generally described as “to be avoided at all costs,”<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://thunfinancial.com/why-americans-should-never-ever-own-shares-in-a-non-us-incorporated-mutual-fund/|title=Why Americans Should Never Own Shares in a Non-US Mutual Fund (PFIC)|last=Kuenzi | first=David| date=2016 |website=https://thunfinancial.com | publisher= Thun Financial Advisors | access-date=30 December 2016}}, viewed 30 December 2016.</ref> there is flexibility in the taxation method that may prove beneficial in some circumstances.
In practice, this definition captures nearly all funds and ETFs commonly used by investors in countries other than the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hodgen.com/what-is-a-pfic/|title=What is a PFIC?|publisher=Hodgen Law PC|accessdate=August 19, 2019}}</ref><ref group="note>Practically every non-US domiciled fund and ETF will be a US PFIC. As a quick way to tell, if it has 'UCITS' somewhere in its name, it is European domiciled and so a PFIC. Aside from reading its prospectus, KID, or fund documents, the other unambiguous way to tell is to find its ISIN. If the first two letters are not 'US', it is almost certainly a US PFIC for tax purposes. Most UCITS funds are domiciled in either Ireland, with ISIN code 'IE', or Luxembourg, with ISIN code 'LU'.</ref> This makes these funds a potential tax trap for US citizens living abroad, and also for non-US citizens living temporarily in the US and other US residents.<ref group="note>For example, all European UCITS funds and ETFs, issued by Vanguard, BlackRock and others and traded on major European exchanges will be US PFICs.</ref>
 
Although the taxation on these funds under US law can be extremely unfavorable, and is generally described as “to be avoided at all costs,”<ref>{{cite web|url= https://thunfinancial.com/why-americans-should-never-ever-own-shares-in-a-non-us-incorporated-mutual-fund/|title=Why Americans Should Never Own Shares in a Non-US Mutual Fund (PFIC)|last=Kuenzi | first=David| date=2016 |publisher= Thun Financial Advisors | accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> there is flexibility in the taxation method that may prove beneficial in some circumstances.


==IRS filing overview==
==IRS filing overview==


PFICs require the submission of IRS [https://www.irs.gov/uac/form-8621-return-by-a-shareholder-of-a-passive-foreign-investment-company-or-qualified-electing-fund Form 8621] (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund) with one's tax return, which can be an extremely time consuming task,<ref>[https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621/ar02.html#d0e1437 Instructions for Form 8621 - Notices], from the IRS.</ref> particularly if many investments are involved (as each investment requires its own 8621 submission).
PFICs require the submission of IRS [https://www.irs.gov/uac/form-8621-return-by-a-shareholder-of-a-passive-foreign-investment-company-or-qualified-electing-fund Form 8621] (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund) with one's tax return, which can be an extremely time consuming task,<ref name="form8621_instructions">{{cite web| url=https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621| title=Instructions for Form 8621| publisher=IRS| accessdate=July 25, 2020}}</ref> particularly if many investments are involved (as each investment requires its own Form 8621 submission).


==Form 8621 filing options==
==Form 8621 filing options==
On form 8621 PFICs may be treated in one of three ways:


#section 1291 taxation (default);
On Form 8621,<ref name="form8621_instructions" /> PFICs may be treated in one of three ways:
#[https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621/ch01.html#d0e269 Mark-to-Market]; and
 
#[https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621/ch01.html#d0e199 Qualified Electing Fund (QEF)].
# Section 1291 taxation<ref name="Section 1291">{{cite web| url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1291| title=26 U.S. Code § 1291 - Interest on tax deferral| publisher=Cornell University Law School| accessdate=August 14, 2020}}</ref> (this is the default taxation method); or
# A mark to market election;<ref group="note">"Mark to market" means that a security is based on its current market value. See: [http://www.nasdaq.com/investing/glossary/m/mark-to-market-accounting Mark-to-Market accounting], from NASDAQ.com.</ref> or
# A Qualified Electing Fund (QEF) election.
 
If no choice is made on a timely filed (including extensions) tax return for the year that the investment is made, section 1291 is valid for this and all future years. The only way to change this is to "purge" the PFIC.<ref group="note">A ''purging election'' is filed with IRS [https://www.irs.gov/uac/about-form-8621a Form 8621-A], Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections to End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company.</ref>


If no choice is made on a timely filed (including extensions) tax return for the year that the investment is made, 1291 is valid for this and all future years. The only way to change this is to “purge” the PFIC.<ref group="note">A ''purging election'' is filed with IRS [https://www.irs.gov/uac/about-form-8621a Form 8621-A], Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections to End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company.</ref>
===Section 1291 taxation===


===Section 1291===
Section 1291 of the U.S. Code is the tax rule which gives the particularly unfavorable treatment.<ref name="Section 1291" />  "Ordinary" distributions are taxed as dividends.  Any distribution which is more than 125% of the average for the previous three years is considered an "excess" distribution, as is any gain received on the sale.  Excess distributions are treated as if they were prorated over the entire holding period, and for previous years it is taxed at the ''maximum personal tax rate for that year,'' not the taxpayer's personal rate, plus interest at the normal rate on tax underpayments.  Losses cannot be deducted against the excess distributions on sales with gains; they would be deducted only as regular capital losses.


Section 1291<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1291|title=26 U.S. Code § 1291 - Interest on tax deferral|accessdate=January 1, 2017}}</ref> of the U.S. Code is the tax rule which gives the particularly unfavorable treatment.<ref name="Section 1291">[https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621/ch02.html#d0e1311 Instructions for IRS Form 8621, Distributions From and Dispositions of Stock of a Section 1291 Fund ] viewed January 1, 2017</ref>  "Ordinary" distributions are taxed as dividends.  Any distribution which is more than 125% of the average for the previous three years is considered an "excess" distribution, as is any gain received on the sale.  Excess distributions are treated as if they were prorated over the entire holding period, and for previous years it is taxed at the ''maximum personal tax rate for that year,'' not the taxpayer's personal rate, plus interest at the normal rate on tax underpayments.  Losses cannot be deducted against the excess distributions on sales with gains; they would be deducted only as regular capital losses.  With the interest, more than half the gain on the sale of a long-term holding could be lost to taxes.
Because of the interest, the effective tax rate on the gain from a long-term holding could reach or even exceed 100%.<ref>{{cite web| publisher=Wikipedia| url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passive_foreign_investment_company#Effect_of_PFIC_status| title=Passive foreign investment company § Effect of PFIC status| accessdate=April 8, 2019}}</ref>


===Mark to market===
===Mark to market===


For mark to market, the investment needs to be marketable and on a qualified exchange (one that “the IRS determines has rules sufficient to ensure that the market price represents legitimate and sound fair market value.”).<ref>[http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Platinum_Group_Metals_(PLG)/Mark-to-market_Election_Pfic_Stock Mark-to-Market Election for PFIC Stock], wininvest.com, May 22, 2007, viewed December 30, 2016.</ref> Presumably all major exchanges qualify. Each year the gains are treated as ordinary income; losses up to the value of accumulated gains are also ordinary income (losses). Losses greater than the gains are not claimed in that tax year, but will reduce gains in future years.<ref group="note">A comprehensive example is here: [https://forums.serbinski.com/viewtopic.php?t=8250 Form 8621 Unreserved Inclusions], Serbinski Accounting Firms Forum, Mar 08, 2014, viewed December 30, 2016.</ref>
For mark to market, the investment needs to be marketable and on a qualified exchange.<ref group="note">A qualified exchange is: "''... (i) a national securities exchange which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the national market system established pursuant to section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (ii) any exchange or other market which the Secretary determines has rules adequate to carry out the purposes of this part.''" See: {{cite web| url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/1296| title=26 U.S. Code § 1296 - Election of mark to market for marketable stock| publisher=Cornell Law School| accessdate=July 25, 2020}}</ref> Presumably all major exchanges qualify. Each year the gains - ''whether realized or unrealized'' - are treated as ordinary income; losses up to the value of accumulated gains are also ordinary income (losses). Losses greater than the gains are not claimed in that tax year, but will reduce gains in future years.<ref group="note">For a comprehensive example, see: {{cite web| url=https://forums.serbinski.com/viewtopic.php?t=8250| title=Form 8621 Unreversed Inclusions| publisher=Serbinski Accounting Firms Forum| date=March 8, 2014| accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref>
 
To say this another way, the value of the fund at the end of the year determines your taxable gain or loss. By simply holding the fund, you are taxed on the unrealized gain.<ref group="note">An unrealized gain is an increase in value of a security. It is not "real" because the security has not been sold. When the security is sold, the gain becomes "real" and is known as a ''realized'' gain. See: [http://www.nasdaq.com/investing/glossary/u/unrealized-capital-gain-loss Unrealized capital gain/loss], from NASDAQ.com</ref>
 
Therefore, the PFIC fundholder, in contrast to the typical mutual fund holder in SEC-registered funds held outside a tax-advantaged account, suffers two major tax disadvantages:
 
# Ordinary vs capital gains treatment; and
# Taxation each year on unrealized capital gains within the underlying fund


Each block of shares purchased at a different time needs to be accounted for and reported separately – “This becomes tedious and overwhelming when the fund reinvests dividends monthly to purchase more shares,<ref>[https://www.f8621.com/cloud/en/pfic-1296-mark-to-market-taxation.php Form 8621 Calculator - PFIC Mark to Market Taxation], by [https://www.f8621.com/index.php Form 8621 Calculator], viewed December 30, 2016.</ref> but for many buy and hold strategies this would not involve significant record keeping. ''Mark to market therefore taxes at your rate of ordinary income, rather than at the rates of capital gains and dividends (which are often, but not always, lower).''
Each block of shares purchased at a different time needs to be accounted for and reported separately – "This becomes tedious and overwhelming when the fund reinvests dividends monthly to purchase more shares,"<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.f8621.com/cloud/en/pfic-1296-mark-to-market-taxation.php| title=Form 8621 Calculator - PFIC Mark to Market Taxation| publisher=Form 8621 Calculator| accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> but for many buy and hold strategies this would not involve significant record keeping. ''Mark to market therefore taxes at your rate of ordinary income, rather than at the rates of capital gains and dividends (which are often, but not always, lower).''


For a US citizen working and living in a high tax country (e.g., a large part of Western Europe), the higher rate of local income tax can provide sufficient tax credits to cover a large investment gain without any US taxes. This brings an additional advantage that, upon eventual return to the United States, the investment can immediately be sold with no capital gain, as the gains have already been marked to market.
For a US citizen working and living in a high tax country (for example, a large part of Western Europe), the higher rate of local income tax can provide sufficient tax credits to cover a large investment gain without any US taxes. This brings an additional advantage that, upon eventual return to the United States, the investment can immediately be sold with no capital gain, as the gains have already been marked to market.


===Qualified Electing Fund===
===Qualified Electing Fund===
In many cases, a Qualified Electing Fund is the best option. From the IRS:<ref name="QEF">[https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8621/ch01.html#d0e199 Instructions for Form 8621 (12/2016)], Tax Consequences for Shareholders of a QEF, viewed December 30, 2016.</ref>


In many cases, a Qualified Electing Fund is the best option. From the IRS:
{{quotation|
*A shareholder of a QEF must annually include in gross income as ordinary income its pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and as long-term capital gain its pro rata share of the net capital gain of the QEF.
*A shareholder of a QEF must annually include in gross income as ordinary income its pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and as long-term capital gain its pro rata share of the net capital gain of the QEF.
*The shareholder may elect to extend the time for payment of tax on its share of the undistributed earnings of the QEF (Election B) until the QEF election is terminated.
*The shareholder may elect to extend the time for payment of tax on its share of the undistributed earnings of the QEF (Election B) until the QEF election is terminated.|IRS Form 8621 Instructions<ref name="form8621_instructions" />}}


However, you must pay interest to the IRS if you elect to extend the time for payment.  
However, you must pay interest to the IRS if you elect to extend the time for payment.  


The QEF approach is basically the same as how the IRS taxes US mutual funds. In order to follow the QEF method, information similar to a mutual fund 1099 form is required. The best way is for the foreign fund to provide this information (typically in what is called a “PFIC Annual Information Statement”). Many Canadian funds do this, but so far we have not found an example of a European based fund providing the information. If the investor can gather the proper information, this would be acceptable, but perhaps difficult to accomplish in practice.  
The QEF approach is basically the same as how the IRS taxes US mutual funds. In order to follow the QEF method, information similar to a mutual fund 1099 form is required. The best way is for the foreign fund to provide this information (typically in what is called a "PFIC Annual Information Statement"). Many Canadian funds do this, but as of 2021 there appear to be no examples of European based funds providing this information. If the investor can gather the proper information, this would be acceptable, but perhaps difficult to accomplish in practice.  
 
Until European funds provide these PFIC statements, mark to market might often be preferable for US persons resident in Europe -- especially given the differential on tax rates in many European countries.
 
Mark to market will usually also be preferable for non-US citizens living in the US, perhaps temporarily, and who still hold non-US domiciled funds from before they became US residents.
 
==Exceptions for certain types of account==
===US pensions===
 
The PFIC tax rules do not apply to PFIC stocks held in a few US tax-deferred account types, primarily [[IRA|IRAs]] and [[401k|401ks]]. From IRS Notice 2014-28:
{{quotation|For example, applying the PFIC rules to a U.S. person that is treated as a shareholder of a PFIC through the U.S. person’s ownership of an individual retirement account (IRA) described in section 408(a) that owns stock of a PFIC would be inconsistent with the principle of deferred taxation provided by IRAs. Accordingly, the Treasury Department and the IRS will amend the definition of shareholder in the section 1291 regulations to provide that a U.S. person that owns stock of a PFIC through a tax exempt organization or account (as described in § 1.1298–1T(c)(1)) is not treated as a shareholder of the PFIC.|IRS Notice 2014–28<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.irs.gov/irb/2014-18_IRB#NOT-2014-28| title=Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2014-18| publisher=IRS| accessdate=November 26, 2020}}</ref>}}
And from Form 8621 instructions:
{{quotation|However, a U.S. person that owns stock of a PFIC through a tax-exempt organization or account described in the list below is not treated as a shareholder of the PFIC.
* An organization or an account that is exempt from tax under section 501(a) because it is described in section 501(c), 501(d), or 401(a).
* A state college or university described in section 511(a)(2)(B).
* A plan described in section 403(b) or 457(b).
* An individual retirement plan or annuity as defined in section 7701(a)(37).
* A qualified tuition program described in section 529 or 530.
* A qualified ABLE program described in section 529A.|IRS Form 8621 Instructions<ref name="form8621_instructions" />}}
 
===Non-US pensions covered by treaty===


Until European funds provide these PFIC statements, Mark to Market might often be preferable for US persons resident in Europe -- especially given the differential on tax rates in many European countries.
Additionally, PFIC tax rules do not apply to PFIC stocks held inside certain non-US pension funds, where these pension funds are covered by a US income tax treaty.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.irs.gov/businesses/international-businesses/united-states-income-tax-treaties-a-to-z| title=United States Income Tax Treaties - A to Z| publisher=IRS| accessdate=November 26, 2020}}</ref><ref group="note">At the time of writing, the US maintains income tax treaties with Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.</ref> From the Federal Register:
{{quotation|In general, § 1.1298-1T(b)(3)(ii) exempts a United States person from section 1298(f) reporting with respect to PFIC stock that is owned by the United States person through a foreign trust that is a foreign pension fund operated principally to provide pension or retirement benefits, when, pursuant to the provisions of a U.S. income tax treaty, the income earned by the pension fund may be taxed as the income of the United States person only when, and to the extent, the income is paid to, or for the benefit of, the United States person.<br>...<br>
The Treasury Department and the IRS have concluded that the treaty-based exception in § 1.1298-1T(b)(3)(ii) should be expanded to apply to PFICs held by United States persons through all applicable foreign pension funds (or equivalents, such as exempt pension trusts or pension schemes referred to in certain U.S. income tax treaties), regardless of their entity classification for U.S. income tax purposes.|Federal Register, 81 FR 95459<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2016/12/28/2016-30712/definitions-and-reporting-requirements-for-shareholders-of-passive-foreign-investment-companies| title=Definitions and Reporting Requirements for Shareholders of Passive Foreign Investment Companies| publisher=US Treasury| accessdate=November 26, 2020}}</ref>}}
This exception is narrowly drawn. It only covers non-US pensions that are covered by treaty, but many treaties do not cover pensions. In addition, although some non-US accounts can be used as effectively a retirement savings account, any non-US accounts that are not ''pension funds'' under the treaty definition are ''not'' exempt from PFIC reporting. Examples include UK [[UK Individual Savings Accounts|Individual Savings Accounts]] (ISA), Canadian [[finiki:Tax-Free Savings Account|Tax-Free Savings Accounts]] (TFSA), and French [[Wikipedia:fr:Assurance-vie en France|Assurance-vie]] and [[Wikipedia:fr:Plan d'Épargne en Actions|Plan d'Épargne en Actions]] accounts.


==Summary==
==Summary==
===For US citizens living abroad===
Due to tax constraints, US citizens living abroad cannot simply invest in local funds as they would in the US, and need to find the best solution for their personal situation.
Due to tax constraints, US citizens living abroad cannot simply invest in local funds as they would in the US, and need to find the best solution for their personal situation.


One option is to invest in local funds while electing the Mark to Market or QEF option. If this is not preferred, PFIC issues can be avoided only by investing through SEC-registered investment vehicles (which may in turn incur tax problems with the local tax authorities), or else through individual [[Stock basics|stocks]] and [[Bond basics|bonds]].
One option is to invest in local funds while electing the mark to market or QEF option. If this is not preferred, PFIC issues can be avoided only by investing through SEC-registered investment vehicles (which may in turn incur tax problems with the local tax authorities), or else through individual [[Stock basics|stocks]] and [[Bond basics|bonds]].
 
For a discussion of how to invest using individual stocks, see the Wiki page on [[Passively managing individual stocks|passively managing individual stocks]].
 
===For US residents===
 
People who immigrate or relocate to the US often still hold funds in their previous country of residence. Or, they may make investments into funds in those countries even after becoming US residents. These will almost certainly be PFICs, making them subject to all of the US tax difficulties outlined above.


For a discussion of how to invest using individual stocks, see the Wiki page [[Passively managing individual stocks|passively managing individual stocks]].
The usual best course of action is to sell these holdings as soon as possible. Ideally, they should be sold well before moving to the US, to avoid all interactions with the PFIC tax rules. Otherwise, or if selling is not an option, the mark to market rules will generally be the least bad choice, because few if any funds will provide the information required for QEF.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Taxation as a US person living abroad]]
* [[Taxation as a US person living abroad]]
* [[US tax pitfalls for a US person living abroad]]
* [[US tax pitfalls for a non-US person moving to the US]]
* [[Passively managing individual stocks]]
* [[Nonresident alien taxation]]
* [[Nonresident alien taxation]]
* [[Nonresident alien with no US tax treaty & Irish ETFs]]
* [[Nonresident alien investors and Ireland domiciled ETFs]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 66: Line 114:


==External links==
==External links==
*[[Wikipedia:Passive foreign investment company|Passive foreign investment company]], on Wikipedia.
* [[Wikipedia:Passive foreign investment company|Passive foreign investment company]], on Wikipedia.
 
{{Tax considerations|state=uncollapsed}}
{{Non-US domiciles}}
[[Category:Tax considerations]]
[[Category:US expat]]

Revision as of 09:12, 6 April 2021

Passive Foreign Investment Companies (PFICs) are investment vehicles classified under U.S. Code: Title 26 - Internal Revenue Code,[1] such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which are not registered with the US Securities Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the U.S. Code,[2] the term "passive foreign investment company" means any foreign corporation if—

  1. 75 percent or more of the gross income of such corporation for the taxable year is passive income, or
  2. The average percentage of assets (as determined in accordance with subsection (e)) held by such corporation during the taxable year which produce passive income or which are held for the production of passive income is at least 50 percent.

In practice, this definition captures nearly all funds and ETFs commonly used by investors in countries other than the US.[3][note 1] This makes these funds a potential tax trap for US citizens living abroad, and also for non-US citizens living temporarily in the US and other US residents.[note 2]

Although the taxation on these funds under US law can be extremely unfavorable, and is generally described as “to be avoided at all costs,”[4] there is flexibility in the taxation method that may prove beneficial in some circumstances.

IRS filing overview

PFICs require the submission of IRS Form 8621 (Information Return by a Shareholder of a Passive Foreign Investment Company or Qualified Electing Fund) with one's tax return, which can be an extremely time consuming task,[5] particularly if many investments are involved (as each investment requires its own Form 8621 submission).

Form 8621 filing options

On Form 8621,[5] PFICs may be treated in one of three ways:

  1. Section 1291 taxation[6] (this is the default taxation method); or
  2. A mark to market election;[note 3] or
  3. A Qualified Electing Fund (QEF) election.

If no choice is made on a timely filed (including extensions) tax return for the year that the investment is made, section 1291 is valid for this and all future years. The only way to change this is to "purge" the PFIC.[note 4]

Section 1291 taxation

Section 1291 of the U.S. Code is the tax rule which gives the particularly unfavorable treatment.[6] "Ordinary" distributions are taxed as dividends. Any distribution which is more than 125% of the average for the previous three years is considered an "excess" distribution, as is any gain received on the sale. Excess distributions are treated as if they were prorated over the entire holding period, and for previous years it is taxed at the maximum personal tax rate for that year, not the taxpayer's personal rate, plus interest at the normal rate on tax underpayments. Losses cannot be deducted against the excess distributions on sales with gains; they would be deducted only as regular capital losses.

Because of the interest, the effective tax rate on the gain from a long-term holding could reach or even exceed 100%.[7]

Mark to market

For mark to market, the investment needs to be marketable and on a qualified exchange.[note 5] Presumably all major exchanges qualify. Each year the gains - whether realized or unrealized - are treated as ordinary income; losses up to the value of accumulated gains are also ordinary income (losses). Losses greater than the gains are not claimed in that tax year, but will reduce gains in future years.[note 6]

To say this another way, the value of the fund at the end of the year determines your taxable gain or loss. By simply holding the fund, you are taxed on the unrealized gain.[note 7]

Therefore, the PFIC fundholder, in contrast to the typical mutual fund holder in SEC-registered funds held outside a tax-advantaged account, suffers two major tax disadvantages:

  1. Ordinary vs capital gains treatment; and
  2. Taxation each year on unrealized capital gains within the underlying fund

Each block of shares purchased at a different time needs to be accounted for and reported separately – "This becomes tedious and overwhelming when the fund reinvests dividends monthly to purchase more shares,"[8] but for many buy and hold strategies this would not involve significant record keeping. Mark to market therefore taxes at your rate of ordinary income, rather than at the rates of capital gains and dividends (which are often, but not always, lower).

For a US citizen working and living in a high tax country (for example, a large part of Western Europe), the higher rate of local income tax can provide sufficient tax credits to cover a large investment gain without any US taxes. This brings an additional advantage that, upon eventual return to the United States, the investment can immediately be sold with no capital gain, as the gains have already been marked to market.

Qualified Electing Fund

In many cases, a Qualified Electing Fund is the best option. From the IRS:

  • A shareholder of a QEF must annually include in gross income as ordinary income its pro rata share of the ordinary earnings and as long-term capital gain its pro rata share of the net capital gain of the QEF.
  • The shareholder may elect to extend the time for payment of tax on its share of the undistributed earnings of the QEF (Election B) until the QEF election is terminated.
    — IRS Form 8621 Instructions[5]

However, you must pay interest to the IRS if you elect to extend the time for payment.

The QEF approach is basically the same as how the IRS taxes US mutual funds. In order to follow the QEF method, information similar to a mutual fund 1099 form is required. The best way is for the foreign fund to provide this information (typically in what is called a "PFIC Annual Information Statement"). Many Canadian funds do this, but as of 2021 there appear to be no examples of European based funds providing this information. If the investor can gather the proper information, this would be acceptable, but perhaps difficult to accomplish in practice.

Until European funds provide these PFIC statements, mark to market might often be preferable for US persons resident in Europe -- especially given the differential on tax rates in many European countries.

Mark to market will usually also be preferable for non-US citizens living in the US, perhaps temporarily, and who still hold non-US domiciled funds from before they became US residents.

Exceptions for certain types of account

US pensions

The PFIC tax rules do not apply to PFIC stocks held in a few US tax-deferred account types, primarily IRAs and 401ks. From IRS Notice 2014-28:

For example, applying the PFIC rules to a U.S. person that is treated as a shareholder of a PFIC through the U.S. person’s ownership of an individual retirement account (IRA) described in section 408(a) that owns stock of a PFIC would be inconsistent with the principle of deferred taxation provided by IRAs. Accordingly, the Treasury Department and the IRS will amend the definition of shareholder in the section 1291 regulations to provide that a U.S. person that owns stock of a PFIC through a tax exempt organization or account (as described in § 1.1298–1T(c)(1)) is not treated as a shareholder of the PFIC.

— IRS Notice 2014–28[9]

And from Form 8621 instructions:

However, a U.S. person that owns stock of a PFIC through a tax-exempt organization or account described in the list below is not treated as a shareholder of the PFIC.

  • An organization or an account that is exempt from tax under section 501(a) because it is described in section 501(c), 501(d), or 401(a).
  • A state college or university described in section 511(a)(2)(B).
  • A plan described in section 403(b) or 457(b).
  • An individual retirement plan or annuity as defined in section 7701(a)(37).
  • A qualified tuition program described in section 529 or 530.
  • A qualified ABLE program described in section 529A.
    — IRS Form 8621 Instructions[5]

Non-US pensions covered by treaty

Additionally, PFIC tax rules do not apply to PFIC stocks held inside certain non-US pension funds, where these pension funds are covered by a US income tax treaty.[10][note 8] From the Federal Register:

In general, § 1.1298-1T(b)(3)(ii) exempts a United States person from section 1298(f) reporting with respect to PFIC stock that is owned by the United States person through a foreign trust that is a foreign pension fund operated principally to provide pension or retirement benefits, when, pursuant to the provisions of a U.S. income tax treaty, the income earned by the pension fund may be taxed as the income of the United States person only when, and to the extent, the income is paid to, or for the benefit of, the United States person.
...
The Treasury Department and the IRS have concluded that the treaty-based exception in § 1.1298-1T(b)(3)(ii) should be expanded to apply to PFICs held by United States persons through all applicable foreign pension funds (or equivalents, such as exempt pension trusts or pension schemes referred to in certain U.S. income tax treaties), regardless of their entity classification for U.S. income tax purposes.

— Federal Register, 81 FR 95459[11]

This exception is narrowly drawn. It only covers non-US pensions that are covered by treaty, but many treaties do not cover pensions. In addition, although some non-US accounts can be used as effectively a retirement savings account, any non-US accounts that are not pension funds under the treaty definition are not exempt from PFIC reporting. Examples include UK Individual Savings Accounts (ISA), Canadian Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSA), and French Assurance-vie and Plan d'Épargne en Actions accounts.

Summary

For US citizens living abroad

Due to tax constraints, US citizens living abroad cannot simply invest in local funds as they would in the US, and need to find the best solution for their personal situation.

One option is to invest in local funds while electing the mark to market or QEF option. If this is not preferred, PFIC issues can be avoided only by investing through SEC-registered investment vehicles (which may in turn incur tax problems with the local tax authorities), or else through individual stocks and bonds.

For a discussion of how to invest using individual stocks, see the Wiki page on passively managing individual stocks.

For US residents

People who immigrate or relocate to the US often still hold funds in their previous country of residence. Or, they may make investments into funds in those countries even after becoming US residents. These will almost certainly be PFICs, making them subject to all of the US tax difficulties outlined above.

The usual best course of action is to sell these holdings as soon as possible. Ideally, they should be sold well before moving to the US, to avoid all interactions with the PFIC tax rules. Otherwise, or if selling is not an option, the mark to market rules will generally be the least bad choice, because few if any funds will provide the information required for QEF.

See also

Notes

  1. Practically every non-US domiciled fund and ETF will be a US PFIC. As a quick way to tell, if it has 'UCITS' somewhere in its name, it is European domiciled and so a PFIC. Aside from reading its prospectus, KID, or fund documents, the other unambiguous way to tell is to find its ISIN. If the first two letters are not 'US', it is almost certainly a US PFIC for tax purposes. Most UCITS funds are domiciled in either Ireland, with ISIN code 'IE', or Luxembourg, with ISIN code 'LU'.
  2. For example, all European UCITS funds and ETFs, issued by Vanguard, BlackRock and others and traded on major European exchanges will be US PFICs.
  3. "Mark to market" means that a security is based on its current market value. See: Mark-to-Market accounting, from NASDAQ.com.
  4. A purging election is filed with IRS Form 8621-A, Return by a Shareholder Making Certain Late Elections to End Treatment as a Passive Foreign Investment Company.
  5. A qualified exchange is: "... (i) a national securities exchange which is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission or the national market system established pursuant to section 11A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, or (ii) any exchange or other market which the Secretary determines has rules adequate to carry out the purposes of this part." See: "26 U.S. Code § 1296 - Election of mark to market for marketable stock". Cornell Law School. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  6. For a comprehensive example, see: "Form 8621 Unreversed Inclusions". Serbinski Accounting Firms Forum. March 8, 2014. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  7. An unrealized gain is an increase in value of a security. It is not "real" because the security has not been sold. When the security is sold, the gain becomes "real" and is known as a realized gain. See: Unrealized capital gain/loss, from NASDAQ.com
  8. At the time of writing, the US maintains income tax treaties with Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Trinidad & Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Venezuela.

References

  1. "U.S. Code: Title 26 - Internal Revenue Code". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  2. "26 U.S. Code § 1297 - Passive foreign investment company". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  3. "What is a PFIC?". Hodgen Law PC. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  4. Kuenzi, David (2016). "Why Americans Should Never Own Shares in a Non-US Mutual Fund (PFIC)". Thun Financial Advisors. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Instructions for Form 8621". IRS. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
  6. 6.0 6.1 "26 U.S. Code § 1291 - Interest on tax deferral". Cornell University Law School. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  7. "Passive foreign investment company § Effect of PFIC status". Wikipedia. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
  8. "Form 8621 Calculator - PFIC Mark to Market Taxation". Form 8621 Calculator. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  9. "Internal Revenue Bulletin: 2014-18". IRS. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  10. "United States Income Tax Treaties - A to Z". IRS. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  11. "Definitions and Reporting Requirements for Shareholders of Passive Foreign Investment Companies". US Treasury. Retrieved November 26, 2020.

Further reading

External links