expat questions

[HappyScrappy]

For those of you that are American but live in a different country, I have questions based on... well, money pretty much.

1) You have to pay whatever taxes of the country you are living in. Don't you also have to pay USA taxes as well? How does that work? Is it different for certain countries?

2) can you still maintain a US bank account. say I have a bank in california, but I work in another country. can I have an account in both?

3) with a foreign address, can you still have your credit cards? I dated a girl from another country and she couldn't get an american credit card.

I'm worried about my student loan, it currently draws from an amiercan bank, and if I had to cancel that, that is just one more hassle to have to deal with.
also, the country I'm considering moving to has pretty good taxes for its residents, but I'm pretty sure if I remain a US citizen, then I still have to pay US taxes - which blows.

if that is the case, then I will likely buy a house on the outskirts of boston and then just deal with things in the states every few weeks.

anyway, just thinking about some things and basically, I have a feeling if I want these questions answered, I'm gonna have to read a lot of IRS shit that I'm not really wanting to have to sift through. so someone that has been through this could perhaps shed some light on it.

 

[spentagn]

For those of you that are American but live in a different country, I have questions based on... well, money pretty much.

1) You have to pay whatever taxes of the country you are living in. Don't you also have to pay USA taxes as well? How does that work? Is it different for certain countries?

You pay the foreign taxes, plus federal income and any state/local income taxes that may apply. Best bet is to list residency in rural Texas and work in a country like the UAE (which has no income tax).

2) can you still maintain a US bank account. say I have a bank in california, but I work in another country. can I have an account in both?

yes

3) with a foreign address, can you still have your credit cards? I dated a girl from another country and she couldn't get an american credit card.

That probably depends on the issuing bank. You didn't date any girls, faggot.

I'm worried about my student loan, it currently draws from an amiercan bank, and if I had to cancel that, that is just one more hassle to have to deal with.
also, the country I'm considering moving to has pretty good taxes for its residents, but I'm pretty sure if I remain a US citizen, then I still have to pay US taxes - which blows.

if that is the case, then I will likely buy a house on the outskirts of boston and then just deal with things in the states every few weeks.

anyway, just thinking about some things and basically, I have a feeling if I want these questions answered, I'm gonna have to read a lot of IRS shit that I'm not really wanting to have to sift through. so someone that has been through this could perhaps shed some light on it.

Call the IRS. They'll tell you the laws. You can probably also contact the American Embassy in the country you're considering. Your HR department will also know.

 

[HappyScrappy]

Well, if I move, I might not be "working" in that country per se.

ugh.

not sure I want to call the IRS for my own special magical reasons - but yeah, I should just spend a weekend on their website.

do you know what is involved in declaring residency in a state, and/or a part of a state?
if I wanted to say that I live in rural TX, yet really have no desire to live there - but only want the low taxes - can I just get a PO or something? I would assume not. what if I own a house and rent it out to someone?

then on the further end of the deal - say I move to said country and then I become a citizen of that country.
could I then still have the american accounts, or then am I officially cut off - but then no longer paying US taxes?
and if I did get cut off like that, could I no longer own property in the states?

and you are right - I've never even left my apartment let alone dated a girl.
I've seen pictures of them on the internet though.
they look squishy.

 

[HUGHJORGEN]

For those of you that are American but live in a different country, I have questions based on... well, money pretty much.

1) You have to pay whatever taxes of the country you are living in. Don't you also have to pay USA taxes as well? How does that work? Is it different for certain countries?

no, I placed people in Kuwait and there salary was not taxed at all- not only that- but no rent, company car and per diem on food- literally every penny they made went into savings


2) can you still maintain a US bank account. say I have a bank in california, but I work in another country. can I have an account in both?

yes- I have an overseas account and mine here-


3) with a foreign address, can you still have your credit cards? I dated a girl from another country and she couldn't get an american credit card.


yes, but you may have to go thru some security protocalls since your shipping address will be different than mailing addy- if that is the case


I'm worried about my student loan, it currently draws from an amiercan bank, and if I had to cancel that, that is just one more hassle to have to deal with.
also, the country I'm considering moving to has pretty good taxes for its residents, but I'm pretty sure if I remain a US citizen, then I still have to pay US taxes - which blows.

if that is the case, then I will likely buy a house on the outskirts of boston and then just deal with things in the states every few weeks.

anyway, just thinking about some things and basically, I have a feeling if I want these questions answered, I'm gonna have to read a lot of IRS shit that I'm not really wanting to have to sift through. so someone that has been through this could perhaps shed some light on it.

 

[Nathan]

Damn razmokets.

Post a pic.

 

[HappyScrappy]

sweetheart - the only pics I have of my on this computer are with family right after I got laid off from my previous job.
I wouldn't feel right posting their pics as well - and I'm way too lazy to edit that shit.

you post a pic fagbreath

 

[Nathan]

Honey, i haven't had a picture taken of me in the last couple years so I wouldn't know where to get one or how to put it up here. Actually, I was in a wedding recently but that won't help much. Maybe the bride and groom can e-mail some pics. Fuck you.

 

[spentagn]

Well, if I move, I might not be "working" in that country per se.

no source posting asshole

do you know what is involved in declaring residency in a state, and/or a part of a state?
if I wanted to say that I live in rural TX, yet really have no desire to live there - but only want the low taxes - can I just get a PO or something? I would assume not. what if I own a house and rent it out to someone?

that may work, but it may also be tax evasion. I'd check with a cpa. sounds like tax evasion isn't a worry, though

then on the further end of the deal - say I move to said country and then I become a citizen of that country.
could I then still have the american accounts, or then am I officially cut off - but then no longer paying US taxes?
and if I did get cut off like that, could I no longer own property in the states?

I know if you are foreign and come to America, to become a citizen you have to denounce your former citizenship. You can then walk down to the now foreign embassy and reclaim it, thus getting dual citizenship. Some W. European countries have the same laws. If you did become a foreign citizen, you can still have an account here. But w/o a residence, you probably won't pay taxes, but are still subject to the foreign taxes. Foreigners can own property here, look at Hawaii, or however you spell it.

 

[WODIN]

It's not tax evasion to own property in a state and declare yourself a state resident. It's tax avoidance which is perfectley legal and the American Way.

 

[WODIN]

Look into self incorporation. You know HappyScrappy, Inc.

 

[HappyScrappy]

Look into self incorporation. You know HappyScrappy, Inc.

Well, now you are talking.
This is all largely theoretical at this point, but I have a side business that I am (very slowly) working on, and then next summer I might be moving to another country.
Now in that country I could get a job making a decent amount of money, and pretty much not get taxed for that money in that country.
Were I also running my company from the states, then that is more money.

I am largely just looking for ways to skirt taxes - so perhaps actaully Incorporating the company would help move a lot of that theoretical money away from my name.

And lol @ spentagn - none of this would be drug dealing, or anything illegal for that matter.

Just looking to avoid as much taxes as possible on the money that I do have. I don't really want to give up my US citizenship, but I suppose I would if it came to it.

An ex-girlfriend of mine, her dad was going through the reverse issue, he married a woman in the states and was moving here and would then start having to pay lots of tax whereas he wasn't before.

All baby-steps at this point. I have plenty of time and at this point don't even really have the money, but I want to be aware of things as they come instead of having to deal with them after the fact.

 

[GinNJuice]

Happy, you could always "rent" some room in my 'mail box' for tax purposes.

However, I may use your name for shipping from sources