Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: LISA/HTB Bonuses-US Tax Implications?  (Read 1448 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 47

  • Liked: 13
  • Joined: Jul 2017
LISA/HTB Bonuses-US Tax Implications?
« on: February 17, 2019, 01:06:28 PM »
So, I (stupidly) opened a Stocks and Shares LISA. From my understanding, I don't need to file anything from capital gains until I close the account, so that is a problem 2 years from now!  ::) I lost money on it anyway during the tax year of 2018. Just wanted to make sure that my understanding of this is correct?

And then to my main question: how do you treat the UK government bonuses on any type of LISA or HTB ISA? Is it interest income? Capital gains? 1099-MISC? Does it matter what type of account the government bonus was paid into?

UK Spouse Visa(Priority):
Applied Online: 02/01/2018
Biometrics: 05/01/2018
Sent off Documents: 06/01/2018
Documents Received in Sheffield: 09/01/2018
Decision E-mail: 11/01/2018
Documents Received(approved): 15/01/2018
Flight to Belfast: 03/02/2018

EU Settlement-Family member of an eligible person of Northern Ireland
Applied Online-27/08/2020
Biometrics at Sopra Steria-Belfast-10/09/2020
E-mail Confirmation of Received Application- 14/09/2020
Request for Further Documents- 24/09/2020
Approved-20/10/2020
New BRP Received-27/10/2020


  • *
  • Posts: 1289

  • Liked: 111
  • Joined: Jan 2010
Re: LISA/HTB Bonuses-US Tax Implications?
« Reply #1 on: February 19, 2019, 04:20:11 PM »
I have very little knowledge of PFICs, LISAs, or the HTB scheme. I can offer some suggestions as to where to start investigations.

Stocks and Shares ISA:
You will first have to determine if the S&S ISA is a PFIC. The ISA is only a name for the wrapper containing the actual investment products. If the actual investments are PFICs, then form 8621 must be filed. Hint: the odds are very good that the underlying investments are a PFIC. The accounting method used is critical as PFICs can be subject to a very high tax rate. My understanding is yearly reporting is the preferred method. If one waits till the second or third year, the computations required can be exceptionally challenging.

https://www.taxesforexpats.com/guides/passive-foreign-investment-company-8621.html

https://thunfinancial.com/home/american-expat-financial-advice-research-articles/why-americans-should-never-ever-own-shares-in-a-non-us-incorporated-mutual-fund/

https://www.goldinglawyers.com/pfic-rules-2018-is-your-foreign-investment-a-u-s-tax-trap/

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-prior/f8621--2015.pdf

LISA:
Only one main concern - is a LISA a pension plan? Would the US treat a LISA as a pension plan? There are withdrawal restrictions, but are these enough. Other concern is the UK Govt. contribution, which is not an employer contribution. I would suggest definitely not trying to claim it as interest. Very grey area.

https://www.gov.uk/lifetime-isa

HTB:
Another grey area but possibly more straightforward for reporting. Is the selected scheme a PFIC? If so, major problem. If it's a bank account it could be less of a problem with the UK Govt. contribution treated as ordinary income on a return (which cannot be included in FEIE - form 2555, and of course, there is no tax to offset on FTC - form 1116), in addition to declaring the yearly interest gained on Schedule B.

https://www.gov.uk/affordable-home-ownership-schemes/help-to-buy-isa

With the exception of PFICs, all a very grey and challenging area, even for the professionals, which is probably why there have been no responses to your question.



Sponsored Links