2003 Tax Help Archives  
Publication 514 2003 Tax Year

Publication 514
Introductory Material

This is archived information that pertains only to the 2003 Tax Year. If you
are looking for information for the current tax year, go to the Tax Prep Help Area.

Important Reminders

Exemption from foreign tax credit limit. If your only foreign income is passive income and the total of all your foreign taxes shown on Forms 1099–DIV, Dividends and Distributions, 1099–INT, Interest Income, and similar statements is not more than $300 ($600 if married filing jointly), you can make an election not to be subject to the foreign tax credit limit. If you make this election, you can claim a foreign tax credit without filing Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit (Individual, Estate, Trust, or Nonresident Alien Individual). See How To Figure the Credit.

Change of address. If your address changes from the address shown on your last return, use Form 8822, Change of Address, to notify the Internal Revenue Service.

Photographs of missing children. The Internal Revenue Service is a proud partner with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Photographs of missing children selected by the Center may appear in this publication on pages that would otherwise be blank. You can help bring these children home by looking at the photographs and calling 1–800–THE–LOST (1–800–843– 5678) if you recognize a child.

Introduction

If you paid or accrued foreign taxes to a foreign country on foreign source income and are subject to U.S. tax on the same income, you may be able to take either a credit or an itemized deduction for those taxes. Taken as a deduction, foreign income taxes reduce your U.S. taxable income. Taken as a credit, foreign income taxes reduce your U.S. tax liability.

In most cases, it is to your advantage to take foreign income taxes as a tax credit. The major scope of this publication is the foreign tax credit.

The publication discusses:

  • How to choose to take the credit or the deduction,
  • Who can take the credit,
  • What foreign taxes qualify for the credit,
  • How to figure the credit, and
  • How to carry over unused foreign taxes to other tax years.

Unless you choose not to be subject to the foreign tax credit limit, you claim the credit by filing Form 1116 with your U.S. income tax return. Two examples with filled-in Forms 1116 are provided at the end of this publication.

Comments and suggestions.

We welcome your comments about this publication and your suggestions for future editions.

You can e-mail us while visiting our web site at www.irs.gov.

You can write to us at the following address:


Internal Revenue Service
Tax Forms and Publications
W:CAR:MP:T
1111 Constitution Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20224

We respond to many letters by telephone. Therefore, it would be helpful if you would include your daytime phone number, including the area code, in your correspondence.

Useful Items - You may want to see:

Publication

  • 54 Tax Guide for U.S. Citizens and Resident Aliens Abroad
  • 519 U.S. Tax Guide for Aliens
  • 570 Tax Guide for Individuals With Income From U.S. Possessions

Form (and Instruction)

  • 1116 Foreign Tax Credit

See How To Get Tax Help near the end of this publication for information about getting these publications and this form.

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