Foreign Income to report - Should it include all QD, NQD, LT and ST cap gains? Percentage?

[jtax88]

I have RICs (mutual funds) that have some International entities. It includes 
- Fund A: Qualified Dividends, LT cap gains.
- Fund B: Qualified Dividends, NQ dividends
- Fund C: Qualified Dividends, NQ dividends.
- Fund D: Qualified Dividends, NQ dividends, LT, ST cap gains.

I also have a Foreign Source Income % percentage for each Fund.

- Do I add up all the income (QD, NQD, LT, and ST cap gains) for each fund and take a % of that? 
- Or do you omit some of these sources of income? Thanks so much!

[DaveF1006 · Accepted solution]

When calculating foreign-source income for mutual funds, you generally apply the Foreign Source Income Percentage to the relevant income categories. However, not all types of income may be included in the calculation. Here’s how it typically works.

1. Qualified Dividends (QD) and Non-Qualified Dividends (NQD): These are usually included when applying the Foreign Source Income Percentage.
2. Long-Term (LT) and Short-Term (ST) Capital Gains: The IRS generally does not consider capital gains as foreign source income for purposes of the foreign tax credit. So, you may omit LT and ST capital gains when applying the percentage.

Steps to Calculate:

• Add up the total dividends (QD + NQD) for each fund.
• Multiply by the Foreign Source Income Percentage for each fund.
• Exclude capital gains from the calculation unless specific IRS guidance states otherwise.

[jtax88]

Thank you so much! This was very clear. I wish they would put this in the instructions for TT!