Compare taxes and see how much you save moving from Honduras to United States
The United States hosts approximately 1–1.2 million Honduran-Americans, with communities concentrated in New York City (particularly the Bronx), New Jersey, Houston, Miami, New Orleans, and Los Angeles. Honduras TPS (Temporary Protected Status) — designated since 1998 following Hurricane Mitch and periodically renewed — has provided work authorization for hundreds of thousands of Hondurans in the US for over two decades, making Honduras one of the longest-running TPS countries. Remittances from the US to Honduras are economically transformative: Honduras received approximately $8–9 billion in annual remittances (primarily from the US), representing approximately 26% of GDP — among the highest remittance-to-GDP ratios in Latin America. The HNL/USD corridor sees gradual but steady HNL depreciation, meaning USD remittances buy progressively more HNL over time.
Progressive DEI Tax, HNL income
Honduras's Servicio de Administración de Rentas (SAR, formerly DEI) taxes residents at progressive rates: 0% on income below HNL 187,064/year (approximately USD 7,600), 15% on HNL 187,064–280,836, 20% on HNL 280,836–561,672, 25% above HNL 561,672. Employee IHSS (social security): 2.5% on wages. Honduras operates a territorial tax system — Honduran nationals residing abroad are generally not taxed on foreign-source income. HNL/USD has depreciated steadily: from approximately HNL 19/USD (2015) to HNL 24.7/USD (2024), representing gradual but meaningful devaluation.
Federal 10–37% + State Tax, FICA
US federal income tax: 10–37% on ordinary income. Standard deduction: $14,600 (single) / $29,200 (MFJ) in 2024. FICA: 7.65% employee. State taxes: 0% (TX, FL) to 13.3% (CA). Honduran-Americans are concentrated in New York/New Jersey (large Bronx and New Jersey communities), Houston, New Orleans, Miami, and Los Angeles. TPS (Temporary Protected Status) has been a critical immigration status for Hondurans — Honduras has been designated for TPS since 1998 following Hurricane Mitch, providing work authorization for hundreds of thousands of Hondurans.
At $38,000 annual (New York) income:
The Honduras-USA comparison centers on wage access and remittance economics. HNL has depreciated gradually vs USD — from HNL 19/USD (2015) to HNL 24.7/USD (2024), about 30% depreciation over a decade. This is slower depreciation than many other corridors (better than Venezuela, Argentina, or Ghana) but meaningful for long-term family planning. US wages for construction, food service, and service workers are 7–12× Honduras equivalents in nominal USD. Hondurans with TPS status have work authorization and can legally enter the formal US labor market.
| Income | HN Tax | US Tax | Savings | 10-Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $30,000 (NY) | ~14% HN (0-15% brackets) | ~40% US (federal + FICA + NY state) | US 26% higher tax but wages 8-12x Honduras | US Social Security builds entitlement; Honduras IHSS pension provides very limited income |
| $50,000 (TX) | ~20% HN (20% bracket) | ~33% US (federal + FICA, no TX) | Texas saves NY/CA state income tax — key advantage for Houston Honduran community | HNL depreciation: USD savings in US bank preserve purchasing power better than HNL savings |
| $80,000 (FL) | ~23% HN (approaching 25%) | ~36% US (federal + FICA, no FL) | Florida: no state income tax — full federal structure only; better than NY or CA for Honduran-Americans | HNL/USD: every USD remitted buys ~30% more HNL than in 2015 — structural depreciation benefit |
CountryTaxCalc.com is reader-supported. When you use our partner links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more about our affiliate partnerships
★ 4.3 Trustpilot · 287,413 reviews
Wise offers transparent USD-to-HNL international transfers for the US-Honduras corridor with competitive fees and exchange rates.
⚠ For currency exchange only — not a bank account replacement.
Send USD to Honduras with Wise →★ 4.7 Trustpilot · 8,728 reviews
Deel enables compliant employment for Honduran professionals working remotely for US companies — enabling USD wages while living in Honduras's lower cost environment.
⚠ For employers and companies only — not for individual freelancers or employees.
Remote Work for Honduran Professionals →Honduras has been designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) since December 1998, when it was first designated following Hurricane Mitch. TPS provides eligible Hondurans with protection from deportation and authorization to work legally in the US. Honduras TPS has been extended periodically by successive administrations. Under TPS, Hondurans can obtain work authorization, Social Security numbers, and pay US taxes — building Social Security and Medicare credits. As of April 2026, the status of Honduras TPS under the Trump administration involves ongoing litigation — attempts to terminate TPS for Honduras (and other long-standing TPS countries) have faced court challenges. Hondurans with TPS should monitor USCIS updates and consult an immigration attorney for current status. TPS does not lead to permanent residence on its own.
US-to-Honduras is a high-volume, well-served remittance corridor. Active providers: Remitly (excellent rates and fees for Honduras, fast delivery), Western Union (extensive Honduras agent network including Hondutel, Banco Occidente agents), MoneyGram, Uniremit (Honduras-specialist service), and Banco Atlántida-affiliated transfer services. Most transfers are delivered to Honduran bank accounts or cash pickup at commercial agents and pharmacies (Cruz Verde agents are common). The HNL/USD exchange rate is relatively transparent — the Central Bank of Honduras (BCH) manages a crawling peg that allows gradual HNL depreciation. Wise supports HNL transfers with competitive rates. $500 remittances typically incur $5–12 in fees via competitive providers, with HNL equivalent improving annually as HNL depreciates.
Honduran professionals (doctors, engineers, technology workers, business owners) in the US face the same US federal tax structure as all residents. The key state-level variable: a Honduran professional in Houston (no state income tax) at $120,000 pays approximately $36,000 in federal + FICA taxes — no Texas state tax. The same professional in New York City pays approximately $36,000 federal + FICA + $11,000 NY state + $4,700 NYC city = approximately $51,700 total. Houston adds $15,700/year more take-home vs NYC. For high-earning Honduran-Americans, the choice of US city and state significantly affects total tax burden — Texas and Florida are the clear winners. Honduran professionals considering returning to Honduras: the 25% top Honduras rate on $50,000+ annual income is competitive with US state income taxes but Honduras wages remain much lower.