IRS indicated that it will no longer assert that taxpayers are precluded from claiming foreign tax credits for the contribution sociale généralisée (CSG) and the contribution pour le remboursement de la dette sociale (CRDS).
As a result, US citizens and resident aliens who pay the CSG and CRDS in France may now claim foreign tax credits to offset their US income tax. Additionally, they potentially may file claims for refund of US income tax by claiming foreign tax credits for CSG and CRDS paid in the last 10 years under Internal Revenue Code Section 6511.
The appeals court indicated the text of the Totalization Agreement required consideration of French law in evaluating whether CSG and CRDS amended or supplemented the French social tax laws in the Agreement.the US Government, represented by the Department of State, and the French Government now have a shared understanding that the laws enacting CSG and CRDS do not amend or supplement the French social tax laws listed in the Totalization Agreement. As a result, the IRS will no longer disallow foreign tax credits for CSG and CRDS.
EY’s Global Tax Alert provides additional details, for reference.
Strategizing Multinational Tax Risks 
Leave a Reply