Glossary

Tax

Foreign tax credit

A foreign tax credit reduces tax owed in one country by the amount of income tax already paid to another on the same income. It is a principal mechanism for relieving international double taxation, and is generally limited to the amount the crediting country would have charged.

In plain terms: Credit for tax you already paid elsewhere on the same income.

Why it matters

The reason a founder taxed in both the US and their home country is often not taxed twice in full. The limits matter: credits are usually capped and can be lost if the two countries characterise the income differently.

Read the full guideUS business taxes

Related terms