The International Tax Trap: Selling Foreign Home as a U.S. Person
If you’re a U.S. citizen or Green Card holder selling foreign real estate, the IRS still expects its share. The gain must be calculated in U.S. dollars using exchange rates on the purchase and sale dates, meaning you can owe tax purely due to currency fluctuations, even if you broke even in local currency. Foreign-currency mortgages can also trigger taxable income under Section 988 when repaid, separate from the property gain. If the property was rented, the IRS requires depreciation recapture at sale, even if you never claimed it. And while foreign taxes paid may qualify for a credit, they often don’t fully offset the U.S. tax due.