Do I need to pay FGTS in the U.S.?

No. FGTS is a fund tied to the Brazilian labor system and linked to employment contracts in Brazil. It has no equivalent in the United States, and workers employed there do not contribute to FGTS because that mechanism simply is not part of U.S. law.

In its place, the United States structures worker protection around contributions to social security (public retirement insurance) and employer-sponsored retirement plans, whose rules and benefits vary by company and by state law.

For those who enter through EB-5, an important distinction applies: EB-5 is an investor visa, not an employment relationship. The investor is not, as a rule, an employee of the company in which the capital is invested, so the logic of employment-related entitlements like FGTS does not apply in the same way it would for a salaried employee.

Labor and social security obligations in the United States depend on the type of work arrangement, the state, and each person’s specific situation. It is therefore best to confirm your specific obligations with a licensed accountant or attorney in the country before making decisions.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.