# Do I still pay US taxes if I retire abroad?

Canonical: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/answers/do-i-still-pay-us-taxes-if-i-retire-abroad/
Section: Where does your money work hardest? (Retirement Decision Lab, Decision 3 · Week 3 · Wed Nov 18)
Facts checked: 2026-10-06 · Next review by: 2027-04-06
Reviewed by: Todd Allyn, Founding Director, Sovereo Intelligence Research

## Short answer

Yes. US citizens file US returns under the same rules wherever they live, and are taxed on worldwide income.

## Detail

Social Security, pensions and IRA withdrawals stay taxable the same way they would be at home. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion does not apply to them.

If your new country also taxes that income, the Foreign Tax Credit can reduce the double hit. Whether a tax treaty helps depends on the country. Colombia has none with the US.

Foreign bank accounts add reporting duties, even when no tax is owed.

## Where it gets personal

Week 3 counts taxes in the total value of each place. The Retirement Decision Lab: https://theretirementdecisionlab.com/

## Sources

1. U.S. citizens and resident aliens abroad, IRS: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/us-citizens-and-resident-aliens-abroad
2. Foreign earned income exclusion: What is foreign earned income?, IRS: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-earned-income-exclusion-what-is-foreign-earned-income
3. Foreign tax credit, IRS: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/foreign-tax-credit

Education only. Not financial, tax, investment, immigration or legal advice.
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