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Level 2
March 23, 2020
Solved

I made excess IRA contribution due to zero earned income. Can I apply foreign earned income exclusion in part and foreign tax credits in part to my foreign earned wages?

  • March 23, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 31 views
I want to know if I can apply foreign tax credits to a portion (the same amount as the the excess IRA contribution) of my foreign earned wages while applying foreign earned income exclusion to the remaining foreign earned wages.
Best answer by DianeC958

Yes, you can apply the foreign exclusion to only part of your wages.  To have earned income to qualify to put money into an IRA, you must add back the excluded amounts in determining your compensation for purposes of the IRA limits.  Likewise, for purposes of determining the IRA limits, do not reduce your compensation by any foreign housing deductions.

 

Individual Retirement Accounts

4 replies

DianeC958Answer
Level 12
March 23, 2020

Yes, you can apply the foreign exclusion to only part of your wages.  To have earned income to qualify to put money into an IRA, you must add back the excluded amounts in determining your compensation for purposes of the IRA limits.  Likewise, for purposes of determining the IRA limits, do not reduce your compensation by any foreign housing deductions.

 

Individual Retirement Accounts

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Level 2
March 26, 2020

Thanks.

One more question.  If I apply foreign earned income exclusion just partly (even if I could apply it to full amount of my earned income), will I be barred from applying foreign earned income exclusion next year? 

Level 13
March 26, 2020

You should be fine.  There is no rule that you must exclude all of your foreign income.

 

 

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