The Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) is a valuable U.S. tax break designed to reduce the double taxation of income that originates from foreign sources. The foreign tax credit allows U.S. citizens and residents who earn income abroad to claim a dollar-for-dollar credit for foreign income taxes paid. This means that when a taxpayer files their U.S. taxes, a credit against the U.S. federal income tax liability can be claimed for foreign income taxes paid – reducing the amount of U.S. tax owed.

The foreign tax credit is available to U.S. taxpayers who have paid taxes on income earned from foreign sources, including wages, dividends, interest, and royalties. The foreign tax credit is claimed as an itemized deduction on the taxpayer’s U.S. federal income tax return, and is not subject to the limits imposed by the alternative minimum tax (AMT). This means that a taxpayer can receive the full benefit of the foreign tax credit, regardless of their U.S. tax bracket.

In order to claim the foreign tax credit, it is necessary to keep accurate records of the foreign taxes paid. This includes the date on which the foreign income taxes were paid, the type of foreign income taxes paid, the country from which the taxes were paid, and an accurate calculation of the amount of foreign income taxes paid. It is also important to have a valid tax certificate from the foreign taxing authorities, verifying the amount of foreign income tax paid.

The foreign tax credit is beneficial for taxpayers who have income from sources abroad, since it enables them to reduce the amount of U.S. federal income taxes owed. It is important to keep track of the foreign taxes paid and to follow the proper procedure for claiming the foreign tax credit, in order to maximize its benefits.