I'm Singaporean and moving back from the US — what happens to my 401(k), RSUs and US accounts?
Short answer: A Singaporean returning from the US usually keeps the 401(k), which stays taxable in the US on withdrawal with no treaty relief, while Singapore generally does not tax foreign-sourced income received by individuals. RSUs earned in the US remain partly US-taxable after you leave. Long-term green card holders must check the exit tax, and US assets face US estate tax.
Written and reviewed by Anthony Walsh, Selanis. Last reviewed 2026-10-06.
Why it works this way
Without a treaty, 401(k) withdrawals by a non-resident alien are subject to 30% US withholding on the taxable portion, rather than a reduced treaty rate. That makes the timing and form of withdrawals important.
RSUs that vest after you leave are sourced by where you worked during the vesting period, so the US-source portion remains taxable in the US even once you are back in Singapore.
Green card holders who held the card in 8 of the last 15 tax years are long-term residents; giving up the card can make them covered expatriates subject to a mark-to-market exit tax if they meet the net-worth, tax-liability or certification tests.
The expensive mistake: Leaving a large US portfolio in your own name after moving home
Non-US persons face US estate tax on US-situs assets above $60,000, with no treaty to raise that threshold. Many returning Singaporeans unknowingly leave their families exposed.
What to do
- Check the green card exit tax — Count the years you held the card and test the covered-expatriate rules before filing Form I-407.
- Plan the 401(k) — Model withdrawals under 30% withholding, and consider Roth conversions while still a US resident in low-income years.
- Restructure US-situs assets — Look at how US shares and funds are held so the estate-tax exposure is understood.