Meghan and royal baby face paying U.S. taxes

Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, may now have additional concerns beyond the safe birth of their child in the coming weeks - namely the US tax system, reports CNN.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (R) and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, leave after attending a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in central London, on March 11, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

Given that Meghan is a US citizen, its being suggested both she and her child may be obligated to pay taxes on any income or gifts she or her yet-to-be-born child may have received or earned, both now and in the future. The report suggests this could open up the extremely guarded British royal accounts to the United States' Internal Revenue Service for a potential audit.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (L) and Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, watch a musical performance at Canada House, the offices of the High Commission of Canada in the United Kingdom, during an event to mark Commonwealth Day, in central London, on March 11, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

"The baby is being born to a United States citizen and that baby, little boy or girl, will automatically be a citizen of the United States simply because her mother is," David Treitel, the founder of American Tax Returns Ltd., told CNN.

The only way for Meghan to avoid filing US taxes would be to renounce her US citizenship. However, the CNN report argues that even if she does so, the couple's baby will still be liable for US taxes until the age of 18.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visits the Bristol Old Vic theatre in Bristol, south-west England on February 1, 2019. [Photo: AFP]

US tax laws obligate US citizens to file returns on an annual basis. Any income, or gifts, which are valued above a certain threshold are subject to American taxes.