Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Cuba to United States
The United States hosts the world's largest Cuban diaspora — approximately 2.3 million Cuban-Americans, overwhelmingly concentrated in Miami (Little Havana, Hialeah, Coral Gables), Tampa, New Jersey, and New York. Cuban migration has occurred in waves: the pre-revolution elite (1959–1960), Operation Peter Pan families (1960–1962), Mariel boatlift (1980), the balsero crisis (1994), and continuous family-based migration through the Cuban Adjustment Act. Cuba-US remittances are Cuba's largest source of hard currency — estimated $3–4 billion annually, though US sanctions and Cuban government restrictions have made transfers increasingly complex. Most Cuban-Americans send money through informal networks or specialized transfer services.
Progressive ONAT Tax, CUP income
Cuba's Oficina Nacional de Administración Tributaria (ONAT) taxes self-employed workers (cuentapropistas) and private businesses at progressive rates: 0% (below CUP 10,000/year), 15% (CUP 10,001–20,000), 20% (CUP 20,001–30,000), 30% (CUP 30,001–50,000), 40% (CUP 50,001–60,000), 50% above CUP 60,000. State sector employees pay via a system where the Cuban state retains most wages — effective tax rate is embedded in the wage structure. Cuba operates a dual currency system (historically CUC + CUP; now officially single CUP) but the black market USD/EUR rate far exceeds official rates. Remittances are a critical lifeline — over $3.5B annually to Cuba, primarily from the US.
Federal 10–37% + State Tax, FICA
US federal income tax: 10–37% on ordinary income; 0%/15%/20% on long-term capital gains. Standard deduction: $14,600 (single) / $29,200 (MFJ) in 2024. FICA: 7.65% employee (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare). State income taxes: 0% (FL) to 13.3% (CA). Cuban-Americans concentrate in Florida (Miami-Dade, Tampa), New Jersey, and New York. Florida has no state income tax — maximizing take-home pay for Cuban-Americans in the state. US taxes citizens and residents on worldwide income; non-resident aliens on US-source income only.
At $50,000 annual (Florida Cuban-American) income:
The Cuba-USA comparison is fundamentally about access to hard currency, not tax optimization. Cuban state sector wages are often the equivalent of $20–$40/month in real purchasing power. Self-employed Cubans (cuentapropistas) under the 2021 expansion can earn more, but face formal rates up to 50% on higher incomes — and the real exchange rate between USD and CUP (black market ~250 CUP per USD vs official 24 CUP) makes US dollar earnings dramatically more valuable. USD remittances from Miami fund the daily lives of millions of Cuban families.
| Income | CU Tax | US Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 (FL) | ~25% CU (cuentapropista) | ~27% US (federal + FICA, no FL state) | Similar tax rates but US wages are 20-30x Cuba equivalents in real purchasing power | US Social Security builds retirement entitlement; Cuban state pension is near-worthless in USD terms |
| $60,000 (FL) | ~40% CU | ~32% US | US marginally lower tax AND far higher absolute wages | USD/CUP parallel: $1 = 250+ CUP — remittances buy much more in Cuba from US than official rate suggests |
| $120,000 (FL) | ~50% CU | ~36% US | US 14% lower tax rate AND higher absolute wages | Cuban-Americans in FL: 0% state tax — full federal capital gains benefit preserved |
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File With TFX — Expert Expat CPAs →US-to-Cuba remittances face sanctions-related restrictions. Current options: Western Union suspended Cuba service in 2020; Remitly and most mainstream services do not serve Cuba. Active options as of 2026: Sigue Corporation (licensed by OFAC to transfer to Cuba), Mondex USA (Cuba-focused remittance company), and informal networks (couriers, family members traveling to Cuba). Cuban families typically receive US dollars in informal CUC/CUP at the parallel market rate (~250 CUP per USD), far exceeding the official rate. The Biden administration relaxed some remittance restrictions in 2022; the Trump administration (as of 2025–2026) has maintained or tightened Cuba sanctions. Monitor current OFAC guidance for the latest authorized remittance channels.
Cuba does not tax Cubans living abroad on foreign earnings. Cuba's tax system applies to people living and working in Cuba — the ONAT taxes income earned in Cuba from Cuban economic activities. Cuban nationals who have emigrated to the US and have no Cuba-source income (no property rental in Cuba, no Cuban business income) have essentially no Cuban tax obligation. Cubans who left Cuba legally (through emigration permits, family reunification, etc.) are generally not considered Cuban tax residents once abroad. Cubans who left without permission may have more complex legal status — consult a Cuba legal specialist. US citizens or green card holders who are also Cuban nationals are subject to all US worldwide income tax rules.
The Cuban Adjustment Act (CAA) of 1966 provides a unique immigration benefit: any Cuban national who is physically present in the United States for at least one year and is admitted or paroled is eligible to apply for US lawful permanent residence (green card). No other national group has this dedicated fast-track residency path. The CAA has been continuously in effect since 1966 and applies to Cubans who arrive in the US through any means — including those who arrive without prior visa authorization. The Biden administration's 2023 Cuban Parole Process created a new legal path for certain Cubans to enter with authorization. As of April 2026, the CAA remains in effect, though the Trump administration has sought to limit its scope for those arriving through unauthorized means.