Foreign earned income exclusion a lower income taxpayer, even if the taxpayer is in a higher tax bracket. Foreign earned income exclusion The United States taxes citizens and residents on their worldwide income. Citizens and residents living and working outside the U.S. may be entitled to a foreign earned income exclusion that reduces taxable income. For 2017, the maximum exclusion is $102,100 per taxpayer, $103,900 for 2018 (future years indexed for inflation). In addition, the taxpayer may exclude housing expenses in excess of 16% of this maximum ($44.19 per day in 2015) but with limits. The exclusion is available only for wages or self-employment
Negative income tax for the taxes drawn at the source is flat) which is positive once the income exceeds the tax exemption. If, however, the income is less than the tax exemption, the effective progressive rate actually becomes negative without any involvement by any tax authority. As for the positive progression, only very high incomes would lead to an actual tax rate which is close to the nominal flat tax rate. The tax on tax exemption also can be understood as a tax credit, which is paid back once an income has reached the level of the tax exemption. This level marks the