US Retirement Accounts for Expats

If you have worked in the United States, you may still have US retirement accounts long after leaving the country.

You may hold a:

401(k)

IRA

Roth IRA

403(b)

457(b)

Thrift Savings Plan

SEP IRA

SIMPLE IRA

Solo 401(k)

inherited IRA

employer stock plan

The account may still be invested.

It may still have beneficiaries.

It may still have tax rules, withdrawal rules, reporting requirements and estate planning consequences.

But living abroad can make the planning more complicated.

Your US retirement account may need to be reviewed for:

rollover options

custodian restrictions

investment suitability

currency exposure

withdrawal timing

required minimum distributions

US withholding

local tax treatment

double tax treaty position

beneficiary planning

estate planning

future country of residence

The question is not only whether you can keep the account.

The better question is:

Does this US retirement account still fit the life you are building outside the United States?

Book a US retirement account review

What should expats do with US retirement accounts?

Expats with US retirement accounts should review each account before making decisions about transfers, rollovers, withdrawals, Roth conversions, investment changes or beneficiary updates.

The right decision depends on:

  • the type of account
  • your citizenship
  • your US tax status
  • your current country of residence
  • your future country of residence
  • your age
  • your withdrawal timeline
  • whether RMDs apply
  • whether the account provider can still service you
  • whether the account has good investment options
  • whether the account has employer stock
  • whether a rollover is available
  • whether a treaty affects the tax position
  • how the account passes to beneficiaries
  • whether your spouse or beneficiaries live outside the United States

A 401(k), IRA or Roth IRA may still be valuable after you move abroad.

But the account should not be left on autopilot.

A retirement account that made sense while you lived in the United States may need a different strategy once you live overseas, spend in a different currency or plan to retire in another country.

You have the information. Now get advice on what it means for you.

If you have a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA or other US retirement account and now live outside the United States, review the account before making rollover, withdrawal, beneficiary or investment decisions.

Book a call

Which US retirement account do you need to review?

401(k) plans

Review whether to leave an old 401(k) in place, roll it over, consolidate it, adjust investments, take withdrawals or update beneficiaries.

401(k) planning for expats

IRA and Roth IRA accounts

Review traditional IRA, Roth IRA, inherited IRA, contribution rules, withdrawal rules, Roth treatment abroad, RMDs and beneficiary planning.

IRA and Roth IRA planning for expats

Old employer plans

403(b), 457(b), TSP and employer stock plans may need specialist review before consolidation, withdrawal or rollover decisions.

Specialist US retirement plans

Withdrawals and RMDs

Taking income from US retirement accounts while abroad can create US tax, withholding, local tax and treaty issues.

RMDs when living abroad

US retirement accounts can remain useful after moving abroad, but they need to be reviewed in the context of your international life.

1

Who this page is for

Americans abroad, former US residents, foreign nationals who worked in the US, green card holders, dual nationals and international families with US retirement accounts.

2

Main accounts to review

401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), 457(b), TSP, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), inherited IRA and employer stock plans.

3

Main planning risks

Rollover mistakes, custodian restrictions, unsuitable investments, US withholding, local tax treatment, RMD errors, double taxation, currency mismatch and outdated beneficiary forms.

4

Common trigger points

Leaving the US, moving country, retiring abroad, changing jobs, reaching RMD age, receiving an inheritance, marrying a non-US spouse or planning to return to the United States.

5

Planning outcome

A clear strategy for whether to keep, consolidate, roll over, withdraw from, invest, protect or pass on your US retirement accounts.

The main US retirement account decisions for expats

The first decision is not usually whether to move the account.

The first decision is to understand what you already have.

A US retirement account review should ask:

  • What type of account is it?
  • Is it an employer plan or an IRA?
  • Is it pre-tax, Roth or after-tax?
  • Is it inherited?
  • Does it hold employer stock?
  • Is the account still open to non-US residents?
  • Are the investment options suitable?
  • Are the fees reasonable?
  • Can the account be consolidated?
  • Would a rollover improve or weaken your position?
  • When will withdrawals begin?
  • Will RMDs apply?
  • Which country will tax the withdrawals?
  • Is there withholding at source?
  • Does a tax treaty apply?
  • Who are the beneficiaries?
  • What happens if a beneficiary lives outside the US?

For an expat, these are not isolated technical points.

They affect retirement income, tax planning, estate planning, currency, investment risk and the country where you expect to spend money in retirement.

Still scrolling? It is probably time to book a call.

If you are unsure whether to keep, roll over, withdraw from or consolidate a US retirement account, get the position reviewed before making an irreversible decision.

Book a call

Documents to gather before a US retirement account review

1

Latest account statements

Gather statements for each 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), 457(b), TSP, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, Solo 401(k), annuity and inherited retirement account.

2

Plan documents

For employer plans, request the plan summary, distribution rules, rollover options, investment menu, fee schedule and beneficiary rules.

3

Tax status information

Confirm citizenship, green card status, US tax filing position, current country of residence and whether you are tax resident in another country.

4

Withdrawal history

Gather details of previous withdrawals, rollovers, Roth conversions, loans, hardship withdrawals, inherited account distributions and RMDs already taken.

5

Cost and investment information

Review fund holdings, fees, investment options, performance, risk level, currency exposure and whether the portfolio still matches your objectives.

6

Beneficiary forms

Check current beneficiary nominations, spouse consent requirements, contingent beneficiaries and whether beneficiaries live inside or outside the US.

7

Tax advice

Gather any US tax, local tax, treaty, withholding or CPA advice already received on the account.

8

Retirement income plan

Clarify when you expect to retire, how much income you need, where you expect to live and which currency you expect to spend.

9

Estate planning documents

Review wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate tax advice and how the retirement account fits into the wider succession plan.

10

Future relocation plans

Confirm whether you expect to stay abroad, return to the United States or move to another country before or during retirement.

Key US retirement account decisions

What happens to a 401(k) when you move abroad?

Review whether you can keep the plan, whether it remains suitable and whether a rollover may be appropriate.

Read the 401(k) guide

Leave an old 401(k) or roll over to an IRA?

A rollover may improve flexibility, but it can also affect costs, investment options, protection, tax and future planning.

Compare the options

What happens to an IRA when you move abroad?

Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs can create different tax, withdrawal, RMD, contribution and beneficiary planning issues abroad.

Read the IRA guide

Custodian restrictions for expats

Some providers restrict accounts when clients use a foreign address, move abroad or lose US residency.

Understand custodian restrictions

Have an old 401(k), IRA or Roth IRA from time spent in the US?

Before you roll it over, withdraw from it, move country or update beneficiaries, review the tax, investment, currency and estate planning consequences.

Book a call

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US retirement accounts for expats FAQs

Important information

This page is for general information only and does not constitute personalised financial, tax, legal, investment, pension transfer, retirement, estate planning or immigration advice.

US retirement account rules, 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, 403(b), 457(b), TSP, RMDs, rollovers, withdrawals, withholding, beneficiary planning, inherited accounts, custodian restrictions, foreign tax treatment and treaty positions depend on personal circumstances and may change.

US tax advice should be taken from a suitably qualified US tax adviser or CPA. Local tax advice should also be taken in the country where you live.

Financial planning should be coordinated with legal, tax and pension advice where appropriate.

Investing involves risk. Pension, retirement account and investment values can fall as well as rise, and you may get back less than you invest.

Currency movements can affect the value of investments and income.

Review your US retirement accounts before making a decision

If you live outside the United States and hold a 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, TSP or other US retirement account, review the account before rolling over, withdrawing, consolidating or updating beneficiaries.

Book a call

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