For a list of participating countries and agreements, please see https://www.ssa.gov/international/agreement_descriptions.html.
The United States Government has Bi-Lateral agreements (also known as Totalization Agreements) with a number of countries for US citizens working overseas to avoid paying dual U.S. and foreign Social Security taxes.
It is your responsibility to know and understand the laws that pertain to you in your country of service. We highly recommend getting tax guidance from a local accountant who knows the laws of their land. US tax professionals are generally not able to assist with foreign-owed taxes.
If you are in a country that has a Totalization agreement, it is likely you will need to submit a certificate of coverage stating that you are paying Social Security to the US government.
If you need assistance from Reliant in obtaining a certificate of coverage - please email your request to international@reliant.org.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for Reliant to process your request and additional time for the SSA to respond.
9 Comments
Barb Seckler
user-a88de user-1a794 - I am working on my second one of these for Reliant workers in japan and figured this should go on Solomon. I think it ideally should go under International but i didn't want to put this in your space without you taking a look. We can add more detail but this at least has the links.
Barb Seckler
user-a88de user-1a794 Did you get to figure out if you want to move this under International?
user-a88de
Barb Seckler - I have not talked with user-1a794 about this yet. I see a benefit in having it in International, but I will check in with Cori this upcoming week to make sure. Thanks, Barb!
Barb Seckler
user-a88de user-1a794 - Do you have an update on this?
user-1a794
Barb Seckler - I have never seen this term "bilateral agreement" in other places. I think you are talking about totalization agreement. Also, I'm not sure payroll is the place for a page on this topic. No one gets out of social security due to living overseas. Now I see you said that on Nov. 27. Kathy Z has traditionally provided what is needed on this front as an extension of her work with Dave. If there is need to shift to international, we can do that. Requests of this nature need to come to us.
Barb Seckler
user-1a794 I previously did this for Chad farmer and I'm working on one for Jason Reedy. I was not aware Kathy Z does this. I'm fine if International does these - I'd like us to formalize that decision and communicate it to all parties that seem to have been involved. Can you please follow this link to ensure we're on the same page - https://www.ssa.gov/international/CoC_link.html the term "bi-lateral agreement" is used on that webpage by the SSA.
user-1a794
ok, then i'm totally in the dark. let me read further.
Barb Seckler
user-a88de hey Cori and I just connected and we decided this should go under International. She asked that I relay that decision to you. Can you please move this Solomon page and edit as you please, making sure the directions say to send requests to international@reliant.org - I can assist you on the first one you receive if you need help navigating that website. I then save the confirmation snip and track it (once you submit the form you'll see a screen with a REF confirmation # that's helpful for tracking it with the SSA). I then send the snip to the employee so they know I have processed the request and they should here back from me in around 6-8 weeks (depending on the SSA's response time). An when the letter is received I scan to the EE file, send a PDF scan to the employee, and ask them where to mail the original letter.
Barb Seckler
user-a88de can you also let Kathy Z know these are now going to International? Cori believes she may also have been doing some of these.