Treatment of expatriates
In general
Every nonresident alien individual to whom this section applies and who, within the 10-year period immediately preceding the close of the taxable year, lost United States citizenship shall be taxable for such taxable year in the manner provided in subsection (b) if the tax imposed pursuant to such subsection (after any reduction in such tax under the last sentence of such subsection) exceeds the tax which, without regard to this section, is imposed pursuant to section 871.
Individuals subject to this section
Alternative tax
Exceptions
In general
Subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to an individual described in paragraph (2) or (3).
Dual citizens
In general
Substantial contacts
Certain minors
Special rules for source, etc.
Source rules
Sale of property
Gains on the sale or exchange of property (other than stock or debt obligations) located in the United States.
Stock or debt obligations
Gains on the sale or exchange of stock issued by a domestic corporation or debt obligations of United States persons or of the United States, a State or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia.
Income or gain derived from controlled foreign corporation
Gain recognition on certain exchanges
In general
In the case of any exchange of property to which this paragraph applies, notwithstanding any other provision of this title, such property shall be treated as sold for its fair market value on the date of such exchange, and any gain shall be recognized for the taxable year which includes such date.
Exchanges to which paragraph applies
Exception
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply if the individual enters into an agreement with the Secretary which specifies that any income or gain derived from the property acquired in the exchange (or any other property which has a basis determined in whole or part by reference to such property) during such 10-year period shall be treated as from sources within the United States. If the property transferred in the exchange is disposed of by the person acquiring such property, such agreement shall terminate and any gain which was not recognized by reason of such agreement shall be recognized as of the date of such disposition.
Secretary may extend period
To the extent provided in regulations prescribed by the Secretary, subparagraph (B) shall be applied by substituting the 15-year period beginning 5 years before the loss of United States citizenship for the 10-year period referred to therein. In the case of any exchange occurring during such 5 years, any gain recognized under this subparagraph shall be recognized immediately after such loss of citizenship.
Secretary may require recognition of gain in certain cases
Substantial diminishing of risks of ownership
Treatment of property contributed to controlled foreign corporations
In general
Corporation described
Disposition of stock in corporation
If stock in the corporation referred to in subparagraph (A) (or any other stock which has a basis determined in whole or part by reference to such stock) is disposed of during the 10-year period referred to in subsection (a) and while the property referred to in subparagraph (A) is held by such corporation, a pro rata share of such property (determined on the basis of the value of such stock) shall be treated as sold by the corporation immediately before such disposition.
Anti-abuse rules
Information reporting
The Secretary shall require such information reporting as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this paragraph.
Comparable treatment of lawful permanent residents who cease to be taxed as residents
In general
Any long-term resident of the United States who ceases to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States (within the meaning of section 7701(b)(6)) shall be treated for purposes of this section and sections 2107, 2501, and 6039G in the same manner as if such resident were a citizen of the United States who lost United States citizenship on the date of such cessation or commencement.
Long-term resident
For purposes of this subsection, the term “long-term resident” means any individual (other than a citizen of the United States) who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States in at least 8 taxable years during the period of 15 taxable years ending with the taxable year during which the event described in paragraph (1) occurs. For purposes of the preceding sentence, an individual shall not be treated as a lawful permanent resident for any taxable year if such individual is treated as a resident of a foreign country for the taxable year under the provisions of a tax treaty between the United States and the foreign country and does not waive the benefits of such treaty applicable to residents of the foreign country.
Special rules
Exceptions not to apply
Subsection (c) shall not apply to an individual who is treated as provided in paragraph (1).
Step-up in basis
Solely for purposes of determining any tax imposed by reason of this subsection, property which was held by the long-term resident on the date the individual first became a resident of the United States shall be treated as having a basis on such date of not less than the fair market value of such property on such date. The preceding sentence shall not apply if the individual elects not to have such sentence apply. Such an election, once made, shall be irrevocable.
Authority to exempt individuals
This subsection shall not apply to an individual who is described in a category of individuals prescribed by regulation by the Secretary.
Regulations
The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be appropriate to carry out this subsection, including regulations providing for the application of this subsection in cases where an alien individual becomes a resident of the United States during the 10-year period after being treated as provided in paragraph (1).
Burden of proof
If the Secretary establishes that it is reasonable to believe that an individual’s loss of United States citizenship would, but for this section, result in a substantial reduction for the taxable year in the taxes on his probable income for such year, the burden of proving for such taxable year that such loss of citizenship did not have for one of its principal purposes the avoidance of taxes under this subtitle or subtitle B shall be on such individual.
Physical presence
In general
This section shall not apply to any individual to whom this section would otherwise apply for any taxable year during the 10-year period referred to in subsection (a) in which such individual is physically present in the United States at any time on more than 30 days in the calendar year ending in such taxable year, and such individual shall be treated for purposes of this title as a citizen or resident of the United States, as the case may be, for such taxable year.
Exception
In general
Individuals with ties to other countries
Minimal prior physical presence in the United States
An individual is described in this subparagraph if, for each year in the 10-year period ending on the date of loss of United States citizenship or termination of residency, the individual was physically present in the United States for 30 days or less. The rule of section 7701(b)(3)(D) shall apply for purposes of this subparagraph.
Termination
This section shall not apply to any individual whose expatriation date (as defined in section 877A(g)(3)) is on or after the date of the enactment of this subsection.
Pub. L. 89–809, title I, § 103(f)(1)80 Stat. 1551Pub. L. 93–406, title II, § 2005(c)(8)88 Stat. 992Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A)90 Stat. 1834Pub. L. 95–600, title IV, § 421(e)(5)92 Stat. 2876Pub. L. 96–222, title I, § 104(a)(1)94 Stat. 214Pub. L. 99–514, title XII, § 1243(a)100 Stat. 2580Pub. L. 102–318, title V, § 521(b)(31)106 Stat. 312Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1401(b)(11)110 Stat. 1789Pub. L. 104–191, title V, § 511(a)110 Stat. 2093–2098Pub. L. 105–34, title XVI, § 1602(g)(1)111 Stat. 1095Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 804(a)(1)118 Stat. 1569Pub. L. 109–135, title IV, § 403(v)(1)119 Stat. 2628Pub. L. 110–245, title III, § 301(c)(2)(A)122 Stat. 1646Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 213(c)(2)128 Stat. 4034Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(153)132 Stat. 1191(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , (4)(H)(v), , , 217; , , ; , , ; , , ; –(d), (f)(1), , ; –(4), (h)(3), , , 1096; , (2), (c), , , 1570; , , ; , (d), , ; , , ; , , .)
Inflation Adjusted Items for Certain Years
section 1 of this titleFor inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under .
Editorial Notes
References in Text
Pub. L. 110–245The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (h), is the date of enactment of , which was approved .
Prior Provisions
section 878 of this titleA prior section 877 was renumbered .
Amendments
Pub. L. 115–1412018—Subsec. (d)(4)(B)(i). substituted “in section 957” for “in 957”.
Pub. L. 113–2952014—Subsec. (e)(2). struck out “subparagraph (A) or (B) of” after “event described in”.
Pub. L. 110–245, § 301(c)(2)(A)2008—Subsec. (e)(1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Any long-term resident of the United States who—
“(A) ceases to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States (within the meaning of section 7701(b)(6)), or
“(B) commences to be treated as a resident of a foreign country under the provisions of a tax treaty between the United States and the foreign country and who does not waive the benefits of such treaty applicable to residents of the foreign country,
shall be treated for purposes of this section and sections 2107, 2501, and 6039G in the same manner as if such resident were a citizen of the United States who lost United States citizenship on the date of such cessation or commencement.”
Pub. L. 110–245, § 301(d)Subsec. (h). , added subsec. (h).
Pub. L. 109–1352005—Subsec. (g)(2)(C). substituted “section 7701(b)(3)(D)” for “section 7701(b)(3)(D)(ii)”.
Pub. L. 108–357, § 804(a)(1)2004—Subsec. (a). , reenacted heading without change and amended text of subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) stated general rule on taxation of nonresident alien individuals who lost United States citizenship and provided that an individual would be treated as having a tax avoidance purpose if the average annual net income tax was greater than $100,000 or the net worth of the individual was $500,000 or more.
Pub. L. 108–357, § 804(a)(2)Subsec. (c). , amended heading and text of subsec. (c) generally, substituting provisions setting forth exceptions for dual citizens and certain minors for provisions relating to inapplicability of presumption of tax avoidance to dual citizens, long-term foreign residents, minors who renounced citizenship upon reaching age of majority, and individuals specified in regulations.
Pub. L. 108–357, § 804(c)Subsec. (g). , added subsec. (g).
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(1)1997—Subsec. (d)(2)(B). , substituted “the 10-year period beginning on the date the individual loses United States citizenship” for “the 10-year period described in subsection (a)” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(2)Subsec. (d)(2)(D). , inserted at end “In the case of any exchange occurring during such 5 years, any gain recognized under this subparagraph shall be recognized immediately after such loss of citizenship.”
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(3)Subsec. (d)(3). , inserted “and the period applicable under paragraph (2)” after “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(4)(C)Subsec. (d)(4)(A). , struck out “during the 10-year period referred to in subsection (a),” before “any income or gain” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(4)(A)Subsec. (d)(4)(A)(i). , inserted “during the 10-year period beginning on the date the individual loses United States citizenship” after “contributes property”.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(g)(4)(B)Subsec. (d)(4)(A)(ii). , inserted “immediately before such contribution” after “from such property”.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1602(h)(3)Subsec. (e)(1). , substituted “6039G” for “6039F” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(a)1996—Subsec. (a). , amended subsec. (a) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (a) read as follows:
In General“(a) .—Every nonresident alien individual who at any time after , and within the 10-year period immediately preceding the close of the taxable year lost United States citizenship, unless such loss did not have for one of its principal purposes the avoidance of taxes under this subtitle or subtitle B, shall be taxable for such taxable year in the manner provided in subsection (b) if the tax imposed pursuant to such subsection exceeds the tax which, without regard to this section, is imposed pursuant to section 871.”
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(d)(2)Subsec. (a)(1). , inserted “(after any reduction in such tax under the last sentence of such subsection)” after “such subsection”.
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(d)(1)Subsec. (b). , inserted at end “The tax imposed solely by reason of this section shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of any income, war profits, and excess profits taxes (within the meaning of section 903) paid to any foreign country or possession of the United States on any income of the taxpayer on which tax is imposed solely by reason of this section.”
Pub. L. 104–188 substituted “section 1 or 55” for “section 1, 55, or 402(d)(1)”.
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(b)(2)Subsec. (b)(1). , substituted “subsection (d)” for “subsection (c)”.
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(b)(1)Subsec. (c). , added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(c)Subsec. (d). , amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows:
Special Rules of Source“(d) .—For purposes of subsection (b), the following items of gross income shall be treated as income from sources within the United States:
Sale of property“(1) .—Gains on the sale or exchange of property (other than stock or debt obligations) located in the United States.
Stock or debt obligations“(2) .—Gains on the sale or exchange of stock issued by a domestic corporation or debt obligations of United States persons or of the United States, a State or political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia.
For purposes of this section, gain on the sale or exchange of property which has a basis determined in whole or in part by reference to property described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be treated as gain described in paragraph (1) or (2).”
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(b)(1), redesignated subsec. (c) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d) which read as follows:
Exception for Loss of Citizenship for Certain Causes8 U.S.C. 1401(b)“(d) .—Subsection (a) shall not apply to a nonresident alien individual whose loss of United States citizenship resulted from the application of section 301(b), 350, or 355 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (, 1482, or 1487).”
Pub. L. 104–191, § 511(f)(1)Subsecs. (e), (f). , added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
Pub. L. 102–3181992—Subsec. (b). substituted “402(d)(1)” for “402(e)(1)”.
Pub. L. 99–5141986—Subsec. (c). inserted at end “For purposes of this section, gain on the sale or exchange of property which has a basis determined in whole or in part by reference to property described in paragraph (1) or (2) shall be treated as gain described in paragraph (1) or (2).”
Pub. L. 96–2221980—Subsec. (b). substituted “55, or 402(e)(1)” for “section 55, 402(e)(1), or section 1201(b)”.
Pub. L. 95–6001978—Subsec. (b). substituted “section 1, section 55,” for “section 1”.
Pub. L. 94–4551976—Subsecs. (b)(2), (e). struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Pub. L. 93–4061974—Subsec. (b). inserted reference to section 402(e)(1).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295Pub. L. 110–245section 213(d) of Pub. L. 113–295section 121 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provisions of the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2008 Amendment
Pub. L. 110–245section 301(g)(1) of Pub. L. 110–245section 2801 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any individual whose expatriation date is on or after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 2005 Amendment
Pub. L. 109–135Pub. L. 108–357section 403(nn) of Pub. L. 109–135section 26 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–357, title VIII, § 804(f)118 Stat. 1573
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–34Pub. L. 104–191section 1602(i) of Pub. L. 105–34section 26 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–191, title V, § 511(g)110 Stat. 2100
In general .—
Ruling requests .—
Special rule.—
In general .—
Exception .—
Pub. L. 104–188section 1401(c) of Pub. L. 104–188section 402 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years beginning after , with retention of certain transition rules, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1992 Amendment
Pub. L. 102–318section 521(e) of Pub. L. 102–318section 402 of this titleAmendment by applicable to distributions after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Pub. L. 99–514, title XII, § 1243(b)100 Stat. 2581
Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
Pub. L. 96–222Pub. L. 95–600section 201 of Pub. L. 96–222section 32 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if it had been included in the provisions of the Revenue Act of 1978, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1978 Amendment
Pub. L. 95–600section 421(g) of Pub. L. 95–600section 5 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Pub. L. 93–406section 2005(d) of Pub. L. 93–406section 402 of this titleAmendment by applicable only with respect to distributions or payments made after , in taxable years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date
section 103(n)(1) of Pub. L. 89–809section 871 of this titleSection applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after , see , set out as an Effective Date of 1966 Amendment note under .
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1998
Pub. L. 104–188section 1465 of Pub. L. 104–188section 401 of this titleFor provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle D [§§ 1401–1465] of title I of require an amendment to any plan or annuity contract, such amendment shall not be required to be made before the first day of the first plan year beginning on or after , see , set out as a note under .
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1994
Pub. L. 102–318section 523 of Pub. L. 102–318section 401 of this titleFor provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle B [§§ 521–523] of title V of require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after , see , set out as a note under .