Foreign Earned Income Exclusion

[Larry Israel]

If one stops taking the foreign earned income exclusion without enclosing a
note that this is being done, need an amended income tax return for the year
be sent? Obviously there is no change in any of the amounts, but one of the
rules has not been followed.

 

[Alan]

If one stops taking the foreign earned income exclusion without enclosing a
note that this is being done, need an amended income tax return for the year
be sent? Obviously there is no change in any of the amounts, but one of the
rules has not been followed.

I'll make the following assumptions: The taxpayer has been using the
exclusion for years past or the previous year. The taxpayer is eligible
for the exclusion in the current year. The taxpayer files a return and
instead of using the exclusion either takes a foreign taxes paid
deduction or computes a foreign tax credit for taxes paid.

Under the above assumptions, the use of a deduction or credit instead of
the exclusion is treated as the taxpayer's revocation.