Potential 5% US tax on remittances

Jan 9, 2004
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Tax on remittances amounts to an export tariff on money.
(... but avoids the ugly word ¨tariff¨)

I guess you could call it a tariff in a technical sense, but, export tariffs are prohibited by the US Constitution…..but taxes are not.

The last time this remittance tax was tried it never made it to the final bill. Time will tell. If implemented, it will certainly negatively affect the GDP of the Dominican Republic.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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What Is the New 5% Remittance Tax?



The new 5% remittance tax is a proposed federal excise tax on all outbound remittances sent by non-U.S. citizens. This includes immigrants on H-1B, L-1, and F-1 visas, green card holders, and non-resident aliens. U.S. citizens and nationals are exempt.

Thank the gods I am exempt.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
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I think that's if you're taxed in error like by one of those online money transfer services that doesn't confirm citizenship. Anyway, this sounds like a real boondoggle to me.

How Will It Work?

The 5% fee will be automatically deducted at the point of transfer by banks and remittance services like Western Union and MoneyGram. These entities will remit the taxes quarterly to the U.S. Treasury.

When Could It Begin?

If passed, this law could take effect as soon as July 4, 2025.
 

windeguy

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Jul 10, 2004
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RealID is not proof of US citizenship.

A US Passport is proof. More US citizens might be getting their passports to avoid the 5% .

The US needs a card like a DR Cedula.
 
Jan 9, 2004
11,289
2,657
113
RealID is not proof of US citizenship.

A US Passport is proof. More US citizens might be getting their passports to avoid the 5% .

The US needs a card like a DR Cedula.

If, and that is a big if, the bill passes as written and is signed into law, you can expect lots of non-citizens asking citizen friends to send those remittances to the DR and elsewhere.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 

El Hijo de Manolo

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous!
Dec 10, 2021
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Dominican Republic
I just don't understand how someone can grow up in the US and not understand basic accounting or tax code. There is literally nothing more basic than saving receipts, including your remittances, and taking the allowed deductions or credits. Illegal aliens, including assassins from MS-13, visa overstayers, narcotraffickers, human traffickers, etc don't file tax returns.
 

El Hijo de Manolo

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous!
Dec 10, 2021
5,645
3,759
113
Dominican Republic
If, and that is a big if, the bill passes as written and is signed into law, you can expect lots of non-citizens asking citizen friends to send those remittances to the DR and elsewhere.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
Yeah, hey Jim, can you do me a solid and send this laundered cash from my RICO activities to my fam in DR? Umm, no.
 
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JLSawmam

Happy on the North Coast
Sep 8, 2018
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How Will It Work?

The 5% fee will be automatically deducted at the point of transfer by banks and remittance services like Western Union and MoneyGram. These entities will remit the taxes quarterly to the U.S. Treasury.

When Could It Begin?

If passed, this law could take effect as soon as July 4, 2025.
Windy, could you please provide a link for this info? My search didn't come up with anything :( Thanks mucho!
 
Jan 9, 2004
11,289
2,657
113
I just don't understand how someone can grow up in the US and not understand basic accounting or tax code. There is literally nothing more basic than saving receipts, including your remittances, and taking the allowed deductions or credits. Illegal aliens, including assassins from MS-13, visa overstayers, narcotraffickers, human traffickers, etc don't file tax returns.

Lots of logistics and regulations to get through if the 5% tax is passed.

Since the standard tax deduction has been raised over the years, fewer and fewer people itemize. So unless you prove you are a U.S. citizen at the point of transfer and the 5% tax is waived at the point, even most US citizens will likely never qualify to have the tax refunded.

Only 10% of US taxpayers itemize and I bet even less percent do so who send remittances.

Respectfully
Playacaribe2
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,815
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JLSawman,



The Indians are on the warpath::p



My guess is that this tax is in tbe big beautuful bill that will now be reconciled by the US Senate before beoming law in the next month or so.

PC2
Seems pretty simple that Western Union, Moneygram, etc, would just take 5% off the top and send it to the US Treasurey for non US citizens remitting money.
Not a big deal at all.
 
Jan 9, 2004
11,289
2,657
113
JLSawman,



The Indians are on the warpath::p



My guess is that this tax is in tbe big beautuful bill that will now be reconciled by the US Senate before beoming law in the next month or so.

PC2
Seems pretty simple that Western Union, Moneygram, etc, would just take 5% off the top and send it to the US Treasurey for non US citizens remitting money.
Not a big deal at all.

Is anything ever in reality…..pretty simple when it comes to law and taxes?

Will the 5% tax be collected on everyone at the point of remittance? Or will citizens have it waived at that point? What would constitute proof of citizenship needed each time you remit…..a passport or a drivers license and birth certificate.

Again, assuming it passes, there will be lots of logistics to work out.

Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 

El Hijo de Manolo

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous!
Dec 10, 2021
5,645
3,759
113
Dominican Republic
Lots of logistics and regulations to get through if the 5% tax is passed.

Since the standard tax deduction has been raised over the years, fewer and fewer people itemize. So unless you prove you are a U.S. citizen at the point of transfer and the 5% tax is waived at the point, even most US citizens will likely never qualify to have the tax refunded.

Only 10% of US taxpayers itemize and I bet even less percent do so who send remittances.

Respectfully
Playacaribe2
Well, if you're sending remittances for expenses related to reported foreign assets, don't. Send those expenses via bank wire. If you're sending money to your pUtA, send a remittance and she has to eat the 5%. If you're hiding from child support or the FBI, well, good luck.
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,815
7,318
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I see no reson that charging 5% tax on a remittance would be dificult for a business.
It might force US citizens to get passports if they want do to so to avoid that tax. Another thing that is not a big deal.

Having US citizen friends send remittances? Perhaps. If they have their passports.
 
Jan 9, 2004
11,289
2,657
113
Well, if you're sending remittances for expenses related to reported foreign assets, don't. Send those expenses via bank wire. If you're sending money to your pUtA, send a remittance and she has to eat the 5%. If you're hiding from child support or the FBI, well, good luck.

And your post raises another good point. Is a wire transfer also a remittance subject to the tax…..and if not, how can it be distinguished to avoid the tax?


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
 

windeguy

Platinum
Jul 10, 2004
44,815
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Wire transfers to the DR should be considered remittances, no? Well, it is, it is:


What is a remittance transfer and what are my rights?​

Federal law defines “remittance transfers” as electronic transfers of more than $15, sent by consumers in the United States to people or companies in foreign countries through a remittance transfer provider.
A remittance transfer is a money transfer sent electronically from the United States to another country by a remittance transfer provider. Common terms may include “international wires,” “international money transfers,” and “remittances.”
According to the law, a remittance transfer provider is any entity that provides remittance transfers for a consumer in the normal course of its business. Banks and other types of financial services companies may qualify as “remittance transfer providers.”
A company is not a remittance transfer provider if it provided 500 or fewer remittance transfers in the prior calendar year and provides 500 or fewer transfers in the current calendar year.

Certain federal protections apply if you send money abroad​

Generally, the rules on international money transfers protect consumers in the United States who use a remittance transfer provider to transfer more than $15 to a person or company in another country.
If you use a company to send a remittance transfer that doesn’t qualify as a remittance transfer provider, then federal law does not require them to provide you with the protections you would otherwise get under federal law.
See your rights below:

The right to receive certain information about your remittance transfer​

Remittance transfer providers must provide you with certain information before and after you pay for a remittance transfer. This includes information about:
  • Fees and taxes they collect from you.
  • The exchange rate that applies to the transfer, if applicable.
  • Fees charged by the company’s agents abroad and certain other institutions involved in the transfer process.
  • The amount of money expected to be delivered.
  • If applicable, a statement that additional foreign taxes and fees may be deducted from the remittance transfer.
You also must receive information about when the money will be available, your right to cancel transfers, what to do in case of an error, and how to submit a complaint.
In some cases, federal law allows remittance transfer providers to estimate some of the figures on the disclosures they provide to you as long as they are clearly identified as estimates. If you think an estimate is incorrect, ask the provider.

The right to have receipts and disclosures in your language​

Federal law generally requires remittance transfer providers to use your language on receipts and other disclosures if it uses your language in its advertising, sales, or marketing materials where you made the transfer, or if it made the transfer in your language.

The right to cancel a money transfer​

After paying, you have up to 30 minutes to cancel the remittance transfer at no charge, unless the transfer has already been picked up or deposited into the recipient’s account.

The right to resolve mistakes​

You have 180 days to notify the remittance provider of a mistake, starting from the date disclosed by the remittance transfer provider as the date when the money will be available. Remittance transfer providers must investigate notices of error. Even though you have up to 180 days to report the mistake, if you think a mistake was made, contact the company as soon as you can. Remittance transfer providers generally have 90 days to investigate the matter and they must notify you of the investigation’s results. For certain types of errors, such as if the money never arrives, you may be able to get a refund or have the transfer resent.
Other protections may be available to you, depending on how you send the money and the laws in your state.
 
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DrNoob

Well-known member
Aug 10, 2024
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Cabarete, DR
It is not that hard for remittance providers to find out who is a US citizen : everyone has to submit proof of ID for KYC/AML purposes when opening the account and these can be requested again anytime by the providers. So all they need to is trigger a request for ID proof for US based accounts and they already have ways to verify the submitted documents with the relevant agencies. Then they can tack on the 5% or not.

BTW who sends how much is already collated by IRS and various tax agencies across the world but this will make it harder in the US for people to do cash based remittances in shops
 
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El Hijo de Manolo

It's outrageous, egregious, preposterous!
Dec 10, 2021
5,645
3,759
113
Dominican Republic
And your post raises another good point. Is a wire transfer also a remittance subject to the tax…..and if not, how can it be distinguished to avoid the tax?


Respectfully,
Playacaribe2
As I said, clearly, a wire for the purpose of remidiation of expenses on declared assets is different than Papi's wire to his mamita. One is an expense for foreign assets, the other is an expense for foreign a** :ROFLMAO: