2009 Foreign Tax Credit


Foreign Tax Credit and Mutual Funds

A mutual fund that has more than 50% of its assets invested in foreign securities at the close of its taxable year can pass a credit to its shareholders for foreign taxes paid. The foreign tax is based on the income the mutual fund received from its investments in foreign stocks and bonds and the taxes the fund paid to foreign governments at the mutual fund level.

The amount of foreign tax credit is reported to shareholders on Form 1099-DIV, Dividends and Distributions, Box 6. For RiverSource® and certain Threadneedle® funds, this is new for the 2009 tax year. When filing taxes, the credit may be taken directly on Form 1040 provided that all of your foreign source income is from interest or dividends and your total foreign tax credit is $300 or less ($600 or less if married filing jointly). Above these amounts, Form 1116, Foreign Tax Credit (Individual, Estate, or Trust)1 can be used or alternatively the amount can be included in your itemized deductions as a tax paid (although the credit is usually more beneficial). Consult your tax advisor about your particular situation.

An example of Foreign Tax Credit

In this example, the fund earns $100 of dividend income in England. Of that amount $15 is withheld and paid to Inland Revenue (the taxing body in England) and the remaining amount of $85 is paid to shareholders. The fund reports the entire amount of $100 in dividend income plus a $15 foreign tax credit to the shareholder using Form 1099-DIV. The shareholder who received $85 in cash, reports the total dividend of $100 as income on their tax return. Assuming a 15% tax rate2 on qualified dividend income, they would owe $15 in tax. To offset this tax they use their $15 foreign tax credit and keep the entire amount of $85 paid to them by the fund.

1 Foreign country breakdown or source of income is no longer needed to complete Form 1116 for income passed through from a mutual fund.

2 The maximum tax rate on qualified dividend income of 15% is in effect through 2010 unless Congress acts.

Fund Foreign Source Income Foreign Tax Credit Rate
RiverSource 120/20 Contrarian Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Absolute Return Currency and Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Balanced 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource California Tax-Exempt 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Cash Management 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Disciplined Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Disciplined International Equity 70.843868% 0.010945
RiverSource Disciplined Large Cap Growth 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Disciplined Large Cap Value Fund 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Disciplined Small and Mid Cap Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Disciplined Small Cap Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Diversified Bond 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Diversified Equity Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Dividend Opportunity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Emerging Markets Bond 79.035953% 0.004801
RiverSource Equity Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Floating Rate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Global Bond 39.186198% 0.000229
RiverSource Global Technology 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Government Money Market 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Growth 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource High Yield Bond 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Income Builder Basic Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Income Builder Enhanced Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Income Builder Moderate Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Income Opportunities 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Inflation Protected Securities 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Intermediate Tax-Exempt 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Large Cap Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Large Cap Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource LaSalle Global Real Estate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource LaSalle International Real Estate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource LaSalle Monthly Dividend Real Estate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Limited Duration Bond 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Mid Cap Growth 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Mid Cap Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Minnesota Tax-Exempt 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource New York Tax-Exempt 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners Aggressive Growth 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners Fundamental Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners International Select Growth 81.866085% 0.011271
RiverSource Partners International Select Value 89.916804% 0.017984
RiverSource Partners International Small Cap 100.000000% 0.009622
RiverSource Partners Select Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners Small Cap Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners Small Cap Growth 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Partners Small Cap Value 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Moderate Aggressive 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Moderate Conservative 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Aggressive 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Conservative 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Moderate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Portfolio Builder Total Equity 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Precious Metals and Mining 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Real Estate 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Recovery and Infrastructure 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2010 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2015 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2020 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2025 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2030 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2035 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2040 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Retirement Plus 2045 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource S&P 500 Index 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Short Duration U.S. Government 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Short-Term Cash 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Small Cap Advantage 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Small Company Index 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Strategic Allocation 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Strategic Income Allocation 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Tax-Exempt Bond 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Tax-Exempt High Income 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource Tax-Exempt Money Market 0.000000% 0.000000
RiverSource U.S. Government Mortgage 0.000000% 0.000000
Threadneedle Asia Pacific 59.576469% 0.003486
Threadneedle Emerging Markets 100.000000% 0.011980
Threadneedle European Equity 93.105665% 0.013110
Threadneedle Global Equity 78.934038% 0.005928
Threadneedle Global Equity Income Fund 39.678128% 0.023285
Threadneedle Global Extended Alpha Fund 0.000000% 0.000000
Threadneedle International Opportunity 84.752863% 0.016842

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This information is for use with concurrent or prior delivery of a fund prospectus. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a mutual fund carefully before investing. To learn more about this and other important information about each fund, download a free prospectus. The prospectus should be read carefully before investing.

Investment products are not federally or FDIC-insured, are not deposits or obligations of, or guaranteed by any financial institution, and involve investment risks including possible loss of principal and fluctuation in value.

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Not all products and all share classes are available through all firms.

RiverSource®, Seligman® and Threadneedle® mutual funds are distributed by Columbia Management Investment Distributors, Inc. (formerly known as RiverSource Fund Distributors, Inc.), member FINRA and managed by Columbia Management Investment Advisers, LLC (formerly known as RiverSource Investments, LLC). Threadneedle mutual funds are subadvised by Threadneedle International Limited, an affiliate of Columbia Management. Seligman is an offering brand of Columbia Management.