Can I deduct payments to a foreign retirement plan from my self employed income? I made payments into a UK retirement plan last year, despite living in the USA.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

there are some U.S. income tax treaties which allow foreign pension plans to be treated as qualified for U.S. tax purposes. One such example is the United States-United Kingdom income tax treaty. Unlike many tax treaties the United States has with foreign countries, the U.S.-UK treaty addresses pensions comprehensively, with rules related to contributions, earnings, and distributions. For example, while living in London, an American can deduct, for U.S. tax purposes, contributions to their UK pension plan. This deduction is only available while the U.S. taxpayer resides in the United Kingdom. Additionally, it applies only to the extent the contributions or benefits qualify for tax relief under HMRC (UK tax authority) rules and the HRMC relief may not exceed the relief that is allowed in the United States under IRS regulations.

[wc8585]

Helpful thanks, sadly I was a resident in the USA for 2018 so doesn't look like they'll qualify.