Loopholes > Federal > Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion
DEDUCTION MEDIUM SAVINGS INDIVIDUAL

Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion

IRC §893

Excludes wages, fees, or salary of non-U.S. citizen employees of foreign governments or international organizations from gross income.

Eligibility

Employee must not be a U.S. citizen (except for Philippines citizens), services must be similar to U.S. government employees abroad, and the foreign government must grant an equivalent exemption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible for the Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion?

Employee must not be a U.S. citizen (except for Philippines citizens), services must be similar to U.S. government employees abroad, and the foreign government must grant an equivalent exemption.

How does the Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion work?

Excludes wages, fees, or salary of non-U.S. citizen employees of foreign governments or international organizations from gross income.

What law authorizes the Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion?

The Foreign Government Employee Compensation Exclusion is authorized under IRC §893 of the Internal Revenue Code (Title 26, United States Code).

Statutory Text — IRC §893

Source: Internal Revenue Code, Title 26, United States Code

§ 893. Compensation of employees of foreign governments or international organizations(a) Rule for exclusionWages, fees, or salary of any employee of a foreign government or of an international organization (including a consular or other officer, or a nondiplomatic representative), received as compensation for official services to such government or international organization shall not be included in gross income and shall be exempt from taxation under this subtitle if—(1) such employee is not a citizen of the United States, or is a citizen of the Republic of the Philippines (whether or not a citizen of the United States); and (2) in the case of an employee of a foreign government, the services are of a character similar to those performed by employees of the Government of the United States in foreign countries; and (3) in the case of an employee of a foreign government, the foreign government grants an equivalent exemption to employees of the Government of the United States performing similar services in such foreign country. (b) Certificate by Secretary of StateThe Secretary of State shall certify to the Secretary of the Treasury the names of the foreign countries which grant an equivalent exemption to the employees of the Government of the United States performing services in such foreign countries, and the character of the services performed by employees of the Government of the United States in foreign countries. (c) Limitation on exclusionSubsection (a) shall not apply to—(1) any employee of a controlled commercial entity (as defined in section 892(a)(2)(B)), or (2) any employee of a foreign government whose services are primarily in connection with a commercial activity (whether within or outside the United States) of the foreign government. (Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 284; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1012(t)(4), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3527.) Editorial Notes Amendments1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–647 added subsec. (c). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Effective Date of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.