I am asking a 2nd time more specifically, whether or not my social security and my IRA distributions can be tax-free if I am overseas more than 330 days a year

[D-william-B]

I realize that earned foreign earned  income is tax-free but is my IRA distribution and social security also tax-free

[Carl]

Although current earned income can be excluded from U.S. tax if you're living abroad, retirement income cannot. IRA distributions are taxable and in addition, IRS requires that U.S. tax be withheld from distributions going to addresses outside the U.S. No current RMDs are due from the owner of a Roth IRA - the usual rules apply if distibutions are taken from the Roth. No tax on removing contribution or conversion amounts but earnings could be taxable in the first 5 years the Roth is in place.

[DoninGA]

And Specifically - Whether or not you live in the US or overseas any taxable withdrawals from a US tax deferred retirement account are taxed at your current tax rate.  You will receive a Form 1099-R in January of the year following the withdrawal from the plan administrator.  And as previously stated Social Security benefits are taxable if your other taxable income reported on a federal tax return plus 1/2 your social security reaches:

Married Filing Jointly - $32,000
Single or Head of Household - $25,000
Married Filing Separately - 0

Your prior post - <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://ttlc.intuit.com/questions/4136294-i-live-more-than-330-days-outside-usa-in-morocco-do-i-have...>

@TaxGuyBill or @Opus 17 or @bine22 - Would any of you care to comment further on this post concerning SS benefits plus IRA withdrawals received in a foreign country.

[Critter]

I concur ... that income is not eligible for the foreign exemption.

[Opus 17]

It is a "foreign earned income exclusion."  It specifically does not apply to unearned income, which these are.

However, when you file your US income tax return, you get a credit or deduction for foreign income taxes that you pay, so you won't be taxed twice on the same income (mostly).

[bine22]

some countries have a tax treaty with the US that exempts social security payments from being taxed, so you would have to check the treaty

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

Your IRA distribution and Social Security payments are subject to the regular rules of taxation.  Being out of the country does not make those payments tax free.

However, as Don pointed out, the regular way that Social Security is taxed depends on your other income, so part of that may not be taxable, depending on all of your other income and circumstances.  But that is just due to the regular way it is computed, it has nothing to do with being outside of the US.

If your foreign income is over $32,000, most of your Social Security will be taxable (and all of your IRA distribution will be taxable).  Also, the 'excluded' Foreign Earned Income will likely put your IRA and Social Security into a higher tax bracket.

The best way to see the results is to enter all of your estimated income into TurboTax.