What is the purpose of form 2555?

Form 2555 shows how you qualify for the bona fide residence test or physical presence test, how much of your foreign earned income is excluded, and how to figure the amount of your allowable foreign housing exclusion or deduction.

Who Must File 2555?

Who needs to file Form 2555? You need to file IRS form 2555 if you want to claim the foreign earned income exclusion. You can claim an exclusion for income you earned abroad if you qualify under the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test and if you have a foreign tax home.

Who qualifies for foreign earned income exclusion?

A U.S. citizen or a U.S. resident alien who is physically present in a foreign country or countries for at least 330 full days during any period of 12 consecutive months.

What qualifies as foreign earned income?

For this purpose, foreign earned income is income you receive for services you perform in a foreign country in a period during which your tax home is in a foreign country and you meet either the bona fide residence test or the physical presence test.

Should I take the foreign earned income exclusion?

The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is generally best for taxpayers whose income is earned in a low- or no-income tax country.

Can I claim both foreign earned income exclusion and foreign tax credit?

Can I Take Both the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and the Foreign Tax Credit? While you cannot take the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and Foreign Tax Credit on the same dollar of income, you can take both in the same year.

Which is better foreign earned income exclusion or foreign tax credit?

When is the Foreign Tax Credit More Beneficial Than the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion? Because the Foreign Tax Credit is applied dollar-for-dollar against your U.S. tax liability, it is more advantageous when a taxpayer’s income is earned in a high tax rate country.