Foreign Gift Tax – Ultimate Info Expats Need To Know
About 13 percent of the current U.S. population consists of immigrants. As a result, there is an increasing demand for information about the correct handling of tax situations involving Green Card holders and legal and illegal residents, such as foreign gift tax.
Of course, with such a spotlight on ensuring that all government demands and requirements are met, it’s essential to ensure you’re in total compliance with reporting all types of income. And submitting the applicable forms.
Are Foreign Gifts Taxable?
Some foreign gifts may be taxable. You must review the requirements to determine whether you should include gifts received from a foreign person in your taxable income. This applies whether they be a cash gift from parents overseas or the transfer of real estate or other tangible properties.
The lifetime exclusions for foreign cash and real estate gifts are quite high. Many taxpayers feel that they can ignore these taxes or believe that they probably don’t apply to them.
However, neglecting to report foreign gifts to a U.S. citizen and not correctly filing the associated form(s) can result in penalties from the IRS.
To make sure you comply with tax law, let’s take a look at what the IRS considers a foreign gift. And why foreign gift reporting is so important and how to stay on top of the forms, due dates, and additional documentation.
Foreign Gift Tax For Gifts From A “Foreign Person”
Nonresident alien parents often want to give their children gifts who are U.S. citizens or Green Card holders. In such cases, the recipient needs to know if there is a tax on gifts from their parents. Unfortunately, these rules are complex and aren’t well-known. Below is some basic information to help you understand and apply these rules.
What Is A Foreign Gift?
The IRS defines a foreign gift as money or other property that a foreigner gives a U.S. resident who does not treat it as a gift. It does not have to be included in gross income.
The person who receives the gift is known as the “donee”. While the individual providing the gift is known as the “donor”. If you are the donee, your gift isn’t reported as income. And you will not be required to pay an income or foreign gift tax.
However, if the gift’s value is greater than a certain amount, you may have an IRS reporting requirement. If required, you must report the gift on Form 3520.
What About A Cash Gift From Parents?
Cash gifts from parents who qualify as foreign persons don’t subject the recipient to taxes. The recipient will not have a requirement to include the gift in their gross income.
If any foreign gift tax is applicable, the donor will be responsible for paying the tax on Form 709. However, the recipient may still need to file an additional form to report the gift if it exceeds a certain amount.
But… to get answers to all of your questions, be sure to request our free e-book.
How About A Non-Cash Gift?
If you receive a non-cash gift from a foreign person, it may be taxable if it is U.S. property. The IRS treats the foreign gift tax of cash and property differently. A non-resident alien donor is subject to foreign gift tax on transfers of real and tangible property situated in the United States. However, the donee is still not responsible for paying the associated taxes.
Who Is A Foreign Person For Foreign Gift Tax?
According to U.S. tax law, a “foreign person” is a non-resident alien individual or foreign corporation, partnership, or estate.
Examples of foreign persons include:
- Parents or other family members of a U.S. person who reside in another country
- A foreign estate from which a U.S. taxpayer receives real estate or other tangible properties
- A foreign business (unless it is tax-exempt) who gifts a taxpayer a particular amount of cash or other valuable property
When To Report A Foreign Gift On The Form 3520
The IRS considers all Green Card holders as U.S. tax residents who must report all worldwide income.
If the Green Card holder receives a gift from his or her nonresident alien parents, the Green Card holder may need to file Form 3520 with the IRS.
Form 3520 is simply an information return. It is due on the same date as your income tax return, with an extension offered until October 15. Reporting is separate from Form 1040. However, the form must be submitted only if the gift exceeds certain thresholds.
While foreign gift tax may not be due by the donee, a “foreign person” gift does have a disclosure requirement to the IRS if it exceeds certain thresholds.
Basically, the disclosure of your foreign gift or inheritance on the Form 3520 is applicable if you:
- Received more than $100,000 from a non-resident alien individual or a foreign estate. This includes foreign persons related to that nonresident alien individual or foreign estate) that you treated as gifts or bequests; or
- Received more than $16,111 for 2018 (adjusted annually for inflation) from foreign corporations or foreign partnerships. This includes foreign persons related to such foreign corporations or foreign partnerships) that you treated as gifts.
For example, consider a young man who is a U.S. citizen purchasing his first home. He receives gift money from his parents overseas, totaling $40,000 to apply to the purchase of his new home. This money will not need to be reported, AND the U.S. taxpayer must file no additional forms.
However, should he have received $120,000 as a foreign gift from his parents. Then, he would need to include the amount on Form 3520. But, it would not be included as part of his gross income.
Aggregate Foreign Gifts For The Tax Year
When calculating these threshold amounts, you must aggregate gifts from different foreign non-resident aliens and foreign estates if you know (or have reason to know) that those persons are related to each other, or one is acting as a nominee or intermediary for the other.
For example, if you receive $75,000 from nonresident alien individual A and a gift of $40,000 from nonresident alien individual B. And, you know that A and B are related. You must then add the amounts and complete Form 3520 with the total of both gifts from alien individuals A and B.
Additionally, the IRS may consider gifts from foreign corporations and partnerships as compensation and may re-characterize the gift as compensation subject to inclusion in gross income.
However, it is important to note that a gift to a U.S. person does not include any amount paid for qualified tuition or medical payments made on behalf of the U.S. person.
How To Prepare Form 3520
Whether you’re completing Form 3520 yourself or you’re using a certified tax professional, you must know certain details to prepare it completely.
On Part IV of Form 3520, report the value of the gift from a non-U.S. citizen. If the gift wasn’t cash, it is imperative to include the foreign gift’s correct market or retail value.
In some cases, the taxpayer may find it helpful to seek the skills of an appraiser. An appraiser can substantiate the market value of the gift, especially if it is real estate. The taxpayer should keep records of the valuation process.
Unlike Form 709, in which preparation and filing are done by the foreign person giving the gift to the U.S. taxpayer. The responsibility to accurately file Form 3520 on time is the sole responsibility of the gift’s recipient.
In instances where a foreign gift’s exact worth cannot be ascertained, taxpayers must provide what is known as a “Beard” filing of Form 3520. This filing must:
- Contain a signature, under perjury and its associated penalties
- Be a purported return in its filing
- Be a reasonable and honest attempt to remain in absolute compliance with the IRS with any estimates provided
- Contain the required information so that the IRS can determine any tax liability
Once you file Form 3520, the three-year statute of limitations begins.
Form 3520 is complex. Especially if it is your first time, including it as part of your filing process, it is best to seek an experienced tax professional who understands these laws.
Penalty For Failure To Report Foreign Gifts On Form 3520
In the case of a failure to report foreign gifts, a penalty equal to 5% of the amount of such foreign gifts applies for each month for which the failure to report continues (not to exceed a total of 25%). No penalty assessment applies if the taxpayer can demonstrate that the failure to comply was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect.
To demonstrate that you had reasonable cause for failing to file Form 3520, you must provide the IRS with:
- The reason for your failure to file
- A detailed list of ways in which you attempted to remain in compliance with tax law
- If applicable, evidence that you lacked knowledge of the applicable tax law.
- If applicable, evidence that you relied on a tax professional or other expert who advised that Form 3520 did not need to be filed or could be filed later.
How To Get Up-To-Date With Filing Form 3520
If you haven’t filed a required Form 3520 at least once, you must comply as soon as possible.
Do not wait for the IRS to contact you, as this could make you ineligible for programs or procedures designed to help taxpayers comply with the IRS and tax laws. Instead, file Form 3520 as soon as you have gathered the required information.
Differences Between The Foreign Gift Tax Treatment Of Cash And Property
There are differences in the foreign gift tax treatment of cash and property to complicate things even further. According to I.R.C. Section 2501(a); Reg §25.2501-1, a nonresident alien donor is subject to gift tax on transfers of real and tangible property situated in the United States.
According to the IRS, if you are a nonresident alien who made a gift subject to the foreign gift tax, you must file a gift tax return (Form 709) if:
- You gave any gifts of future interests,
- Your gifts of present interests to any donee other than your spouse total more than $13,000, or
- Your outright gifts to your spouse who is not a U.S. citizen total more than $136,000
The gifts are subject to taxation at the same rates that apply to U.S. citizens.
As you can see, the foreign gift tax rules are extremely complex and vary with individual circumstances. Before proceeding, it is best to consult with your tax professional.
Frequently Asked Questions About Foreign Gift Tax
1. Do I have to pay taxes on a foreign gift I received?
Generally, U.S. recipients do not pay taxes on foreign gifts. However, you may need to report the gift to the IRS if it exceeds certain thresholds, even if no tax is due. The key requirement is filing Form 3520 when those limits are met.
2. What is the IRS threshold for reporting a foreign gift?
If you receive gifts totaling more than $100,000 from a nonresident alien individual or foreign estate, you must file Form 3520. For gifts from foreign corporations or partnerships, the threshold is $19,570 for 2025 (adjusted annually for inflation). These thresholds apply to the total gifts received during the tax year.
3. How do I report a foreign gift to the IRS?
You must report qualifying foreign gifts using Form 3520, “Annual Return To Report Transactions With Foreign Trusts and Receipt of Certain Foreign Gifts.” The form is due on the same date as your federal tax return, including extensions. You’ll list details such as the gift amount, type, and donor information.
4. What happens if I don’t report a foreign gift?
Failing to report a required foreign gift can result in steep penalties. The IRS may charge 5% of the gift’s value per month, up to a maximum of 25%. You can request penalty relief if you can show that the failure was due to reasonable cause, not willful neglect.
5. Are gifts from foreign corporations or partnerships treated differently?
Yes. The IRS may reclassify gifts from a foreign business entity as taxable income or compensation if they appear to be payments for services or other benefits. In such cases, the gift may need to be included in your gross income rather than treated as a nontaxable gift.
6. What’s the difference between a foreign gift and a foreign inheritance?
A foreign gift is a voluntary transfer of money or property from a foreign person made out of generosity, while an inheritance comes from a deceased person’s estate. Both may trigger a reporting requirement if thresholds are exceeded. However, neither is included in your taxable income unless the IRS reclassifies the transfer as income.
Get Expert U.S. Tax Preparation Wherever You Live
Tax Samaritan is a team of Enrolled Agents with over 25 years of experience focusing on US taxpayers’ taxation living abroad.
Our services include Foreign Gift Tax disclosures. We maintain this tax blog where Enrolled Agents write all articles. Our main objective is to educate Americans abroad on their tax responsibilities to stay in compliance.
The United States is a country filled with persons of different cultures and nationalities, making it one of the greatest melting pots for diversity on the planet.
Therefore, tax professionals need to be up-to-date on all programs and procedures that can affect U.S. citizens living overseas (ex-pats) or U.S. taxpayers who have received gifts from foreign relatives or other persons.
For further guidance on how to self-prepare your Form 3520, please see the Form 3520 Instructions.
