FEIE Calculator — Foreign Earned Income Exclusion for US Expats
US citizens and green card holders are taxed on worldwide income — but the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) lets qualifying expats exclude up to $132,900 of foreign wages/self-employment income from US federal tax in 2026 (Form 2555). You qualify via the Physical Presence Test (330 full days abroad in any 12-month period) or the Bona Fide Residence Test. This calculator estimates your excludable amount from your foreign income and qualifying days.
2026 FEIE cap is $132,900 (up from $130,000 in 2025), prorated by qualifying days if you don't have a full qualifying year. You must still file a US return and Form 2555 to claim it — this doesn't exempt you from filing.
2026 FEIE cap of $132,900 per IRS inflation adjustments (Notice 2025-... series); 2025 cap was $130,000. This is a simplified estimate, not tax advice — actual eligibility, the foreign housing exclusion, and self-employment tax treatment depend on your full situation.
How to use this tool
- Enter your total foreign earned income (wages or self-employment income for work performed abroad) for the tax year.
- Enter how many qualifying days you were physically present abroad — 330 full days in any 12-month period passes the Physical Presence Test.
- Uncheck 'full tax year' if you moved abroad partway through the year — the exclusion cap is prorated for a partial year.
- Press Calculate to see your excludable amount and remaining taxable income.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion?
A US tax provision (IRC Section 911) letting qualifying Americans living abroad exclude foreign wages or self-employment income from US federal income tax — up to $132,900 per person for 2026. You claim it on Form 2555 attached to your Form 1040. It does not exclude you from filing a US return; citizenship-based taxation still requires filing every year.
How do I qualify — Physical Presence vs Bona Fide Residence?
The Physical Presence Test requires 330 full days abroad in any 12-month period (the easiest to prove objectively). The Bona Fide Residence Test requires establishing genuine tax residence in a foreign country for an uninterrupted period including a full calendar year — more subjective but allows more travel back to the US.
Can married couples both claim FEIE?
Yes — if both spouses have qualifying foreign earned income and each independently meets the test, each can exclude up to their own $132,900 cap on separate Form 2555s, for a combined $265,800 in 2026.
Does FEIE cover self-employment (SE) tax?
No — FEIE only excludes income from federal income tax, not from self-employment tax (Social Security/Medicare, ~15.3%) unless a Totalization Agreement between the US and your host country applies. Many self-employed expats still owe SE tax on excluded income.
Should I use FEIE or the Foreign Tax Credit instead?
It depends on your host country's tax rate. In high-tax countries, the Foreign Tax Credit (crediting foreign tax paid dollar-for-dollar against US tax) often beats FEIE. In low or no-tax countries (UAE, Qatar), FEIE is usually better since there's little foreign tax to credit. Many expats use both strategically — talk to a cross-border tax preparer for your specific mix.