The CFC (Controlled Foreign Corporation) rules regarding income inclusion have to thread a very small needle. On one hand, they need to prevent United States taxpayers from moving offshore, thereby taking advantage of a technical reading of the United States tax code that prevents taxation of non-US (foreign) corporations (see Part I and Part II). On the other hand, they can’t be so restrictive they prevent United States corporations from expanding internationally, thereby hindering legitimate business development. In effect, the rules need to exclude income derived from “legitimate” business expansion but include evasion.

Before moving forward, be advised: below is a general summation of the CFC income inclusion rules: there are many nuanced ins and outs to these rules that are far beyond the Read More