Guide to IRS Currency Conversion
Updated: Nov 6
When it comes to filing your expat taxes, a critical step involves converting your foreign income into US dollars. This process requires a clear understanding of the foreign exchange rates as recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Here's an insightful guide to navigating this essential aspect of your tax preparation.
Key Takeaways
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Understanding the Need for Currency Conversion
Why is currency conversion necessary for American expats? The answer lies in the requirement set by the U.S. government: all taxpayers, regardless of residence, must report their income in U.S. dollars when filing federal tax returns. This mandate ensures consistency in income reporting and allows for a standardized approach to tax assessment.
Example
Alex, a U.S. citizen, resides in the United Kingdom and has earned a salary of £50,000 during the year 2022. As an American expatriate, he is required to report his income in U.S. dollars on his U.S. tax return, even though his earnings are originally in British pounds (GBP).
Total Income in GBP: Alex's annual earnings for the year 2022 amount to £50,000.
Exchange Rate Selection: For the purpose of simplicity and maintaining consistency in his tax reporting, Alex opts to utilize the IRS's average annual exchange rate. For the year 2022, the established rate is 0.811, indicating that each U.S. dollar equates to 0.811 British pounds.
Income Conversion to USD: To ascertain the U.S. dollar equivalent of his salary, Alex performs the following calculation: £50,000 (total income) ÷ 0.811 (exchange rate) = $61,650.43
Thus, Alex is obliged to report $61,650.43 as his income on his U.S. tax return for the year 2022.
The IRS Exchange Rates
The IRS permits the use of various rates, provided they are applied consistently. For instance, taxpayers can use the daily exchange rate available on the transaction date, which is ideal for isolated or infrequent transactions. For regular income, such as salaries or consistent freelance payments, the IRS average exchange rate as published by the IRS is often more practical, as it reflects an aggregate rate over the entire year. Other sources such as the Treasury Department, Federal Reserve Bank, and credible online platforms like Oanda.com, xe.com, and x-rates.com are acceptable as well. It's crucial that whichever source or rate used, the approach is consistent and justifiable to the IRS.
Table of IRS Exchange Rates
Country | Currency | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
Argentina | Peso | TBD | 130.792 | 95.098 |
Australia | Dollar | TBD | 1.442 | 1.332 |
Canada | Dollar | TBD | 1.301 | 1.254 |
China | Yuan | TBD | 6.73 | 6.452 |
Denmark | Krone | TBD | 7.077 | 6.29 |
Euro Zone | Euro | TBD | 0.951 | .846 |
Hong Kong | Dollar | TBD | 7.831 | 7.773 |
Israel | Shekel | TBD | 3.361 | 3.232 |
Japan | Yen | TBD | 131.454 | 109.817 |
Mexico | Peso | TBD | 20.11 | 20.284 |
New Zealand | Dollar | TBD | 1.578 | 1.415 |
Norway | Kroner | TBD | 9.619 | 8.598 |
Singapore | Dollar | TBD | 1.379 | 1.344 |
South Korean | Won | TBD | 1291.729 | 1144.883 |
Sweden | Krona | TBD | 10.122 | 8.584 |
Switzerland | Franc | TBD | 0.955 | 0.914 |
Taiwan | Dollar | TBD | 29.813 | 27.932 |
UAE | Dirham | TBD | 3.673 | 3.673 |
UK | Pound | TBD | 0.811 | 0.727 |
Exchange Rates for Foreign Asset Reporting
For U.S. taxpayers with foreign financial assets, the Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts Report (FBAR) and Form 8938 (Statement of Specified Foreign Financial Assets) are crucial components of their tax reporting obligations. When it comes to valuing these foreign assets in U.S. dollars for the purpose of these forms, the IRS mandates the use of the year-end U.S. Treasury exchange rate.
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