Country guide
USA for nomads: cards, ATMs and the 183-day tax test
By DmytroLast checked
- Currency
- USD
- Crypto tax
- Digital assets taxed as property
- Tax residence test
- 31 days + 183 weighted days over 3 years
Short answer
Card spending in the US is straightforward, but ATM operators charge their own fee on top of your issuer’s, and hotels and car-rental firms place deposit holds, so carry a second card. For non-citizens, US tax residence follows the substantial presence test: at least 31 days this year and 183 weighted days over three years.
Crypto card availability
Crypto card availability in the US depends on the provider and the state. RedotPay, for example, lists the US among its restricted jurisdictions and also restricts app access by location (as of 24 Aug 2026).
Paying on the trip
Before the trip, check your card’s foreign transaction fee and the network’s conversion rate.
A USD balance avoids conversion on each purchase; issuer fees and account reviews still apply.
Keep receipts and statements for chargebacks, refunds and insurance claims.
Banks and cards
Some US financial products require a US address, a tax identification number or residence in a supported state.
Debit, prepaid and crypto-funded cards behave differently for hotel and car-rental holds; give the desk a card with enough available balance or credit.
Currency, ATMs and cash
If you live in the US, Wise charges no Wise fee on ATM withdrawals up to USD 250 a month, then USD 1.95 plus 1.95% per withdrawal (US pricing, as of 21 Sep 2026). The operator’s fee comes on top; confirm the total on screen before accepting.
Crypto rules
FinCEN guidance treats some virtual-currency exchangers and administrators as money services businesses, depending on what they do.
The IRS treats digital assets as property for US tax purposes, and digital asset income can be taxable.
The SEC publishes guidance on crypto assets and federal securities laws, which shapes the products US providers offer.
Tax and residency
The 183 weighted days count all current-year days, one-third of last year’s and one-sixth of the year before. Days in transit for less than 24 hours, regular commuting days from Canada or Mexico and days as an exempt individual, such as a student on an F, J, M or Q visa, are left out of the count.
Example, if every day counts: 122 days in each of three years gives 122 + 40⅔ + 20⅓ = 183 weighted days. That meets the test with fewer than 183 days in the current year.
Keep digital asset, invoice and travel records for every year you spend time in the US.
Checklist
- Count your US days for this year and the two previous years before planning a long stay.
- Ask your hotel and car-rental desk for the hold amount when you book.
Sources
- Application of FinCEN's Regulations to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currencies — FinCEN
- Digital assets — Internal Revenue Service
- Crypto Assets and the Federal Securities Laws — U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- Substantial presence test — IRS
- Unsupported Countries/Regions — RedotPay
- Location-Based Access Restrictions — RedotPay
- Pricing for the Wise Multi-Currency Card — Wise
Tax, visa and residence rules depend on your situation, so confirm them with the official authority. How we compare