TPP | U.S. Requirements for Foreign Pension Plans

Cassandra Vogel, JD

The migration of workers into and out of the United States is a fact of the modern interconnected world. Consequently, many U.S. taxpayers acquire an interest in a foreign pension plan or other deferred compensation arrangement during time spent working abroad. Because of the beneficial tax treatment of these plans in the originating country, a taxpayer might easily—but incorrectly—assume that there are no U.S. tax implications or reporting requirements for these foreign plans. It is a mistake to overlook a taxpayer's interest in a foreign pension plan for U.S. tax purposes, and thus it is important to be well versed in the rules relating to foreign pensions, as well as how to bring previously noncom-pliant individuals into compliance.