The “right” answer is what I laid out for the reasons I laid out ....it’s taxable unless...
A- it was already taxed by the UK
B- similar to US, it is return of the contribution which was contributed with post tax money
Have any of the other posts / blogs you’ve read laid out WHY they did nor did not pay the tax?
You are going to have to trust some one so might be worth hiring a tax lawyer that specialized in international taxes - that way you get “ peace of mind”
Lastly: worst case scenario is you don’t pay the tax and the IRS audits you...
