Withholding Tax Rates by Country for Foreign Stock Dividends

One of the factors that investors need to consider when investing in foreign stocks is taxes since it reduces the effective rate of return on an investment. Governments of most countries try to recoup millions in taxes from dividends that are paid to foreign investors by companies located in their countries. For example, when a U.S.-based investor invests in France Telecom (TEF) ADRs, the French government will deduct 25% in taxes on all dividends paid. Hence, though TEF currently has a 6.98% dividend yield, the actual yield that this investor receives will be less. However, the IRS allows a foreign tax credit (filed with IRS Form #1116) to be taken using which this investor can deduct the taxes paid to the French government. This is done to avoid double taxation of dividends. There is a maximum limit to this tax credit. A few countries do not charge any taxes on dividends paid to foreign investors. So foreign investors receive the entire dividends paid by companies based in those countries. For example, the U.K. charges no taxes on dividends paid by British companies (excluding REITS) to U.S. investors. So an investor in National Gird Plc (NGG) will receive the complete dividends paid at the current dividend yield of 4.68%.... Read more