Discover all the tax services we offer
Get an instance service estimate
Comprehensive guides on everything you need to know from planning your expat journey to filing your expat taxes with ease.
Our Country Guides will help you understand the ins and out of your specific U.S. expat tax requirements.
Access up-to-date articles, breaking news, deadline information and in-depth case studies on US expat taxes.
Get the answers to all your questions and browse Greenback’s most frequently asked customer questions.
Sign up for one of our live webinars hosted by our expert accountant team or watch one on-demand today.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get money-saving tips, expat tax news, and exclusive promos.
Learn how our straightforward pricing, easy process, and an expert team makes us uniquely qualified to simplify the hassle of expat tax filing.
We’ve assembled a team only the most experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly CPAs and IRS Enrolled Agents our clients can trust.
Read our client testimonials to get a feel for the Greenback experience straight from the expats we’ve worked with.
We’re featured in many reliable news sources thanks to our reputation as experts on US taxes abroad.
Whatever your expat tax needs, wheverver in the world, we’d love to hear from you.
Knowledge Center Country Guides
Egypt is home to thousands of Americans living abroad. With friendly locals and a warm climate, it’s no surprise US expats would set their sights on this North African country. But what taxes can you expect as an American living in Egypt?
In this guide, we’re going to look at the expat taxes for US citizens in Egypt.
When talking about Egyptian expat taxes, it’s worth noting that Americans living in Egypt still have to file a US tax return every year. All US citizens are required to file an annual return regardless of where they live. Whether you live in Cleveland or Cairo, the IRS needs to know the details of your income.
And as a resident of Egypt, you will probably also have to file an Egyptian tax return. The good news is that Egypt’s tax rates are low for locals and foreigners alike.
Egypt uses a residence-based taxation system. This means that residents of Egypt are taxed on their worldwide income, while non-residents are taxed on income that comes from an Egyptian source.
For employment income received from an Egyptian employer, income taxes will be withheld at the source, and there is no need to file a separate annual tax return. You would only need to file a tax return if you received some other form of taxable income, such as:
The Egyptian government will consider you a resident for tax purposes if any of the following are true:
If you do not meet any of these standards, you will be considered a non-resident for tax purposes.
Egypt taxes residents’ worldwide income at progressive rates ranging from 0% to 25%. (All amounts are given in EGP.) in the table below, you can see current Egyptian income tax rates.
Non-residents are taxed at the same progressive rates as residents. However, unlike residents, non-residents are only taxed on their Egypt-source income.
Residents and nonresidents can claim an annual salary tax exemption of 9,000 EGP.
Capital gains generated from property sales are only taxed if the real estate was used in a trade or business (including a sole proprietorship). Otherwise, capital gains are not taxed.
A 2.5% transfer tax applies to selling any built real estate or land prepared for building. The value of the sale is assessed on the total disposal value of the property.
Egypt imposes a stamp tax on certain documents, such as:
The rate for this tax varies depending on the type of document. For example, the rate for banking transactions is 0.04%, while the rate for insurance premiums ranges from 0.08% to 10%.
All property in Egypt is subject to a real estate tax. The rate for this tax is 10% on the annual rental value after a 30% deduction for residential property or a 32% deduction for nonresidential property. Residential units with a rental value of less than 6,000 EGP are exempt.
Egypt applies a value-added tax (VAT) to certain goods and services. The standard rate for this tax is 14%. Some goods and services are subject to a reduced rate of 5%. Others are exempted entirely.
Corporate income is taxed at a flat rate of 22.5%. This applies to the net taxable profits of the company. The only exception to this is oil exploitation companies, which are taxed at 40.55%.
Egyptian corporations are generally taxed on their worldwide income, while foreign companies operating in Egypt are only taxed on income derived from Egypt.
Like the US, Egypt’s tax year is aligned with the calendar year. The tax year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. Annual tax returns are due by March 31. However, if your only source of income is employment income from an Egyptian employer, your income tax will be withheld at the source, and you will not have to file a return.
Yes. The US-Egypt tax treaty defines which country an expat will owe income taxes to, removing the risk of double taxation. Typically, whichever country claims you as a resident for tax purposes will retain the right to tax your income.
No. The US and Egypt have not signed a totalization agreement. However, the Egyptian social security system only applies to Egyptian nationals, so expats are not required to contribute to the system anyway.
After reading this guide, you should better understand how Egypt’s tax policies impact US expats. If you still have questions, our team of tax experts is here to help. We can even prepare and file your expat tax return on your behalf.
Learn where the best tax havens are, common traps, and ways to save money on your US expat taxes.