Welcome back! Ask questions, get answers, and join our large community of tax professionals.
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Form 2555: Foreign earned income exclusion

Can housing-related expenses that are not deductible as an itemized deduction (e.g. disallowed foreign mortgage interest and foreign real estate taxes) be used to increase the section 911 foreign housing exclusion or deduction?

TP had a mortgage balance in excess of $1million as of December 31, 2019 and this loan was taken in 2016.

Thank you in advance for your time and comment.

0 Cheers

This discussion has been locked. No new contributions can be made. You may start a new discussion here

1 Solution

Accepted Solutions
itonewbie
Level 15

The statutory language is "of the kind deductible", not deduction allowed.  That makes a difference in legal terms and is what guides judges in their rulings.  There is no ambiguity or gray area in §911 for position taking, if that's what you are thinking.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still an AllStar

View solution in original post

0 Cheers
8 Comments 8
itonewbie
Level 15

Not for mortgage interest.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still an AllStar
0 Cheers

@itonewbie I could not find in the f2555 instructions on increasing FEIE with foreign real estate taxes but not allowing mortgage interest.  Could you please shed some lights on this.  Thanks.

0 Cheers
itonewbie
Level 15

See §911(c)(3)(A)(ii) for expenses not includable as qualified housing expenses.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still an AllStar
0 Cheers

@itonewbie Can you also shed some lights on the code where it also allows foreign real estate taxes to be part of the housing expenses (IRC911(c)(3)(A)(ii)).  Thanks again for your time.

0 Cheers
itonewbie
Level 15

911(c)(3)Housing expenses.—

911(c)(3)(A)In general.—The term “housing expenses” means the reasonable expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year by or on behalf of an individual for housing for the individual (and, if they reside with him, for his spouse and dependents) in a foreign country. The term—

911(c)(3)(A)(i) includes expenses attributable to the housing (such as utilities and insurance), but

911(c)(3)(A)(ii) does not include interest and taxes of the kind deductible under section 163 or 164 or any amount allowable as a deduction under section 216(a).

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still an AllStar

@itonewbie It seems that as foreign real estate taxes are deductible under IRC164(a)(1), it can not be included as part of the housing expenses under 911(c)(3)(A)(ii).  Please let me have your thought on this.  Thanks.

0 Cheers
itonewbie
Level 15

The statutory language is "of the kind deductible", not deduction allowed.  That makes a difference in legal terms and is what guides judges in their rulings.  There is no ambiguity or gray area in §911 for position taking, if that's what you are thinking.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still an AllStar
0 Cheers

@itonewbie Thanks for your valuable comments  will include foreign real estate taxes as part of housing expenses but will exclude mortgage interest from housing expenses.

0 Cheers