What is FIRPTA law and how does it affect foreign investors?

Theย Foreignย Investmentย inย Realย Propertyย Taxย Actย (FIRPTA)ย isย oneย ofย theย manyย aspectsย foreignย 
investorsย mustย considerย whenย contemplatingย investingย inย propertiesย inย theย Unitedย States.ย 
Fiscallyย complex,ย FIRPTAย lawย requiresย theย paymentย ofย taxesย onย profitsย derivedย fromย realย estateย 
byย suchย investors.ย Hereย areย someย thingsย youย needย toย knowย aboutย thisย tax:ย 
ย 
Whoย isย subjectย toย theย tax?ย Theย lawย appliesย toย allย non-residentย orย foreignย citizensย acquiringย orย 
sellingย propertiesย locatedย inย theย Unitedย States;ย fromย vacantย lotsย toย multifamilyย buildings,ย allย theseย 
transactionsย willย beย subjectย toย theย law!ย 
ย 
Whatย isย theย taxย percentage?ย 10%ย ofย theย totalย amountย paidย orย receivedย isย theย maximumย forย thisย 
typeย ofย tax;ย Buyersย mustย withholdย thisย 10%ย andย submitย itย asย paymentย toย theย IRSย afterย closingย aย 
deal.ย 
ย 
Howย areย profitsย calculated?ย Profitsย gainedย asย aย resultย ofย aย saleย areย adjustedย usingย theย currentย 
federalย taxย basisย toย calculateย theย exemptย andย deductibleย realย value.ย 
ย 
Areย thereย exceptionsย toย thisย law?ย Yes;ย Theย Firstย Externalย Exceptionย (EEI)ย grantedย underย sectionย 
897(h)ย allowsย foreignย taxpayersย withย permanentย legalย residencyย notย toย worryย aboutย FIRPTAย asย 
longย asย theyย meetย theย definedย requirements.ย 
ย 
FIRPTAย lawย isย anย importantย matterย forย allย internationalย investorsย andย it’sย wiseย toย beย awareย ofย itย 
beforeย makingย anyย deals!ย 
ย