Understanding the US-UK Tax Treaty: Avoid Double Taxation

Kader Ameen
Jul 9
2 min read

The U.S.-UK Tax Treaty is designed to prevent double taxation and clarify tax responsibilities for individuals and businesses with income in both countries.

Understanding the US-UK Tax Treaty: Avoid Double Taxation

Key Benefits for Individuals

Eliminates Double Taxation: Income is generally taxed only once — either in the U.S. or the UK — depending on your tax residency and the nature of income.
Relief for Salaries & Wages: Short-term residents may avoid U.S. taxation if they meet specific conditions (e.g., UK resident, stay <183 days, salary not paid by a U.S. entity).
Tax Treaty Article 18: Exempts UK pension income from U.S. taxation in most cases.
Students and Trainees: Under Article 20, certain students and trainees from the UK are exempt from U.S. tax on grants, scholarships, or payments received abroad.

How to Claim Treaty Benefits

File Form 8233 (for dependent personal services). For more information refer to our earlier blog on Form 8233
Use Form W-8BEN (for passive income like dividends, royalties). For more information on the earlier blog on Form W8-BEN.
Attach a statement citing the relevant Article of the U.S.-UK treaty.

Points to Remember

Treaty benefits must be claimed — they’re not automatic.
U.S. citizens and green card holders generally cannot use the treaty to avoid U.S. taxation on worldwide income if the resident country does not have a tax treaty with the USA for example, Singapore, Saudi Arabia and other Middle East countries.
Be sure to have a valid ITIN or SSN when filing for treaty-based relief.

Final Thoughts

The U.S.-UK Tax Treaty offers valuable tax relief opportunities for eligible individuals and entities. Understanding which articles apply to your situation is key to avoiding double taxation and ensuring compliance. If you're unsure about your eligibility or how to apply treaty benefits, our team is here to assist.

For professional assistance with the form, treaty benefits, or U.S. tax compliance, contact our team today.

We are one of the IRS Enrolled Agents with many years of experience in US 1040/1040NR personal tax compliance reporting and FATCA Compliance FBAR Reporting. We are happy to assist our clients in a timely, efficient, and cost-effective way.