A case where US/UK tax is actually easy! OMG
 

There was a recent question about how a US resident would deal with the taxation of a UK state pension. It turns out to be a pretty easy process.

State pensions (US social security and UK state pensions) are covered under the tax treaty and are ONLY taxable in the country of residence. If you live in the US and get a UK state pension you need to fill out an HMRC US-Individual-2002 to claim relief from UK tax

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr/us_individual_2002.pdf

along with an IRS form 8802 Residency Certification

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8802.pdf

and send both forms (with $35 fee) to the IRS in Philadelphia. They will send you a 6601 Residency Certificate back and also send the forms off to HMRC.

So now you will get your UK state pension with no UK tax withheld and you simply include it on line 21 of your 1040 and write something like "UK state social security pension" in the description.

The best bit of this at no point do you have to quote tax treaty Articles.
If you are UK resident and get a US SS, the equivalent process is more complicated.

Re: A case where US/UK tax is actually easy! OMG
 

Thanks nun!

This is very helpful, my wife is eligible for her UK State Pension but actually hasn't filled out the form to start the payments yet. Mine'll be another 4 or 5 years.

If we move to England, or try to divide our time between the two countries, there will be more issues to address.

Re: A case where US/UK tax is actually easy! OMG
 

This would be great in the wiki, if you didn't mind a copy/paste job :)

Re: A case where US/UK tax is actually easy! OMG
 

Actually I now think the UK state pension should go on line 16 and NOT 21 as it is taxed as an annuity.