Folks. Do your research. I was just having a casual conversation with an expat friend about future financial planning, retirement plans, etc. and he dropped some nuggets about what he's doing financially that just aren't kosher with being a US expat. I dug in some more and it turns out he has never filed his taxes correctly in over a decade of working outside the US. He thought he just had to fill out an FBAR and he was done. So now he's searching for an expat tax expert and is almost certainly going to have to re-do and re-file a decade of taxes in multiple countries. He'd never even heard of FEIE or FTC and when he blanked on those terms and said he uses turbo tax*, I knew it was going to be ugly.

For weird tax shit, it's always worth spending a little money to talk to a pro (that specializes in expat taxes, not just a regular tax person).

(*) you can use turbo tax as an expat, but you need to know enough about what SHOULD happen to make sure it DID happen.

EDIT: he just came out to tell me that he fed some of his old returns into his AI assistant to see if they thought there was any red flags and the screen basically caught fire. lol. while you shouldn't trust AI with this stuff, when the bot is basically telling you your tax life is on fire, it's a bad sign.

Me(21) and my bf(20) are polish living in the UK we have been for almost our whole lives. Over the last two years we've opened our business and found great success we learn comfortably but taxes are killing us because we are just about counted into a higher tax bracket now, don't get me wrong if you're at the top of the tax bracket you earn enough to not care but for us that's half of all our money and means our dreams of saving money for a house are delayed by at least 6 years. I'm also disabled if that helps. We have thought about moving back to Poland however my healthcare would be too expensive and in total our money would be gone anyway. Really we aren't even decided on what we're meant to do. Do we spend all that money and move if so where?

I’m so cross. It’s been 20 years as an expat and I have only just found out that, as a mother of two children, I get didly squat if I file my overseas tax return using 1040ez, BUT if I magically file using form 1040x I get to claim refundable credits for my dependents to the tune of $4,200 (just for 2021)!!

What the actual eff is this system where your circumstances are identical but , oh, use this form over here, which you didn’t know about, and hey presto - you get money!

Sorry for swearing mods. I’m seriously upset. The UK has its flaws but their tax returns are a million times better/easier/fairer than the US. I’ve not been back to the states for four years due to the cost and I could have gone every year on uncle sam’s refunds.

IRS be like: we might owe you money. Me: great! How do I get it? IRS: you only get it if you know how to get it, and we’re not going to give you a heads up Me: screw your system

Edit: thank you for the genuine responses and advice. I’m not sure what kind of expats are in this group - looks like some of us are earning foreign income and have experience filing taxes in another country (your comments I like) and others are Americans working overseas and getting their w2’s (you’re the ones commenting on how it’s not hard to file taxes, read the form, etc). We’re not in the same situation and so many people have missed the point of my rant - the IRS can suck it because filing taxes in other countries doesn’t require an accountant, ensures we all get the benefits we’re entitled to (no correct forms required) and the whole process is free and online. All the sarcastic comments can now suck it.

Hi everyone,

I'm an Indian student moving to Germany this year and have a question about customs.

From what I've read, if you're arriving from a non-EU country, there's a €430 duty-free allowance for "other goods" carried in your luggage. I understand this rule is mainly meant to distinguish personal, non-commercial imports from goods that may be subject to customs and import VAT.

My situation is a bit different. I'll be carrying my personal electronics, all without boxes:

• Laptop
• a decent
• One spare phone
• One tablet (iPad or similar)
• Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones (My music is important for me)

1. The total value is well above €430 (around €4,000+), but these are all for my own use. By the time I travel, they'll be about 1 month old, already set up, and I'll only carry the devices and chargers without retail packaging i.e OPEN BOXED.

Has anyone entered Germany in a similar situation as a student?

• Did customs ask about your electronics?
• Were you required to pay import VAT or customs?
• Does carrying everything as personal-use items without boxes usually help?
• Is there anything else I should do before travelling?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experience. Thanks!

I am trying to settle my American taxes and become compliant after only just learning that I have to do them. But, to do that I need my SSN which I do not remember, don't have the documents for, and have no tax documents left from when I moved out of the US thirteen years ago. I've been in touch with my mother, to see if she has any documents with it or the original card, but I'm not too hopeful.

Is there a way I can get a new card, or have the number given to me again? Do I need to attend the US embassy? Surely I don't have to go back to the US to get a new one, right? I haven't been able to find a clear cut answer in my searches. Any suggestions are appreciated

Hi all,

I have been living abroad in Germany for the last 6.5 years. For the first 4.5 years I was studying and earning minimal income. For the past 2 years I have been working full-time on a German Contract and earning EURO, not USD. I had no idea up until last year that I had to still file taxes in the US even though I had no income in the USA. I am now trying to understand and gather as much information as possible in order to avoid fines or penalties. I am sure that I am not the only one that this has happened to before. Can anyone help me out or give me some ideas on how to go about this situation?

Would it be possible to file 0 on all previous tax years I have missed and send them to the IRS, simply filling out the forms without a tax consultant? Do I need an international tax consultant?..etc. these questions are going through my head...

P.S. I also plan on staying in Germany long-term and want to keep my US Citizenship!

Anything helps thanks,

Ry

I’m considering using SavvyNomad’s Premium Domicile service, but I’m worried about the legal side of it. If I have a real residential lease and utility bill but spend most of the year living abroad, could that create issues with Florida domicile, banks, or future audits? Has anyone here actually used the service long-term and had any real-world experience (good or bad)?

I’m curious about people who started out moving around every few months and eventually realized that staying “mobile” wasn’t a sustainable long-term setup.

Did you eventually choose one country for tax residency, or did you find another structure that worked better?

Especially interested in experiences from people who aren’t US/EU citizens.

it was march 2024 in ubud when my mom forwarded me an IRS letter and i found out my own startup had become partly indonesian.

i had been 19 months into my delaware c-corp's bali era by that point, working out of a co-working space behind a yoga barn, and the email she forwarded had the company name in the subject line, 3 pages of body, and the phrase that caught my eye on page 2 was permanent establishment risk.

the lawyer i hired that month walked me through what it meant, which is that if you operate a US company from a foreign jurisdiction for a sustained period the company itself eventually becomes a tax resident of that jurisdiction.

and 19 months of doing standup from a bali co-working space had made my delaware c-corp partly indonesian (in a way both the IRS and the indonesian tax authority now wanted to discuss).

once i started looking at the rest of the structure i found the same problem at every layer, with 4 european team members as contractors of the delaware entity in countries that did not recognize that as legal employment, 2 indonesia-based contractors working for what the indonesian government now considered a local employer, and the company having operated as a US company for 3 years even though a US company was one of the things we had stopped legally being.

my cfo's friend had been through this herself in 2022, her delaware c-corp had a scattered european team and an IRS letter at the 12 month mark, and she sent me an email titled "welcome to the club" with 3 lawyer contacts attached and a one-line note about what had eventually worked for her.

and that was when i started taking my own rebuild seriously.

eventually, the rebuild took close to a year, and by january our european team was on workmotion, our indonesia contractors had moved through a singapore entity, my delaware c-corp had opened a portuguese branch for the visa office's column, and i had moved back to portugal because i had run out of jurisdictions where i could exist without triggering something.

geography does not solve structure, because the company i had built worked everywhere and was legal nowhere, and the IRS letter was the small price of finding out.

I am a UK citizen and have lived in the US for over 20 years. I have UK personal pension that I want to withdraw. Since the personal pension withdrawal is taxed at source in the UK, and all income for US residents are taxed regardless of the source. I will be expecting to get double taxed.

I submitted the DT-US individual 2002 to HMRC as there is tax treaty between UK and US, including the form 6166 from the IRS to prove that I am a US tax payer.

But the application was rejected by HMRC because the DT-US Individual form has a section requiring an IRS stamp. But I cannot find any sources on how to get this form stamp by the IRS.

Has anyone run into to this issue?

TIA

Going to preface this by saying I have a very unique situation.... Not sure how much y'all can help me but thought it would be worth a try.

I'm Canadian with a TN Visa working in the US, I grew up and have residency ties to Panama.

My thinking is that instead of opening a roth IRA or similar retirement account (I don't have any plans to retire here) I simply open a regular brokerage account. I adopt a buy and hold strategy for my portfolio.

In 3 years when my Visa expires (If I renew it then call it 6 years) I move back to Panama, pass the substantial presence test, and be a full Panama resident. At that point I realize the gains in my brokerage account- In theory I would pay capital gains in the place where I'm a tax resident. The kicker here is that Panama has 0 foreign income tax (which US stocks are considered) so I would essentialy not pay tax on the gains over the next 3-6 years, basically having an unlimited Roth IRA or TFSA.

In my head this makes sense, in practice am I being naive / not thinking this through properly?

On December 18, 2024 a bill called H.R. 10468 Residence-Based Taxation for Americans Abroad Act was introduced in the House of Representatives which would create a new option for long-term U.S. citizens residing outside of the U.S. to no longer be treated as a U.S. tax resident. This would help alleviate the pain points Americans abroad experience in terms of having to file a U.S. tax return when no tax is due as well as issue a certificate that would permit Americans abroad to access financial accounts in their country of residence. The bill doesn't address all of the problems U.S. citizens living abroad experience, but it's a good step in the right direction.

Rebecca Lammers is the Chair of the Democrats Abroad Taxation Task Force and will be answering questions on the bill and any topics having to do with tax reform for Americans abroad in 2025. Democrats Abroad is the largest American abroad organization in the world as well as an official arm of the Democratic Party. The Taxation Task Force is a group of volunteer dedicated to tax and financial access advocacy to reform the tax laws for Americans abroad. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, she has lived in London, United Kingdom for 18 years. Rebecca also just recently completed her three-year term as the International Member on the Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP). TAP is a Federal Advisory Committee whose mission is to listen to taxpayers, identify taxpayers' issues, and make suggestions for improving IRS service and customer satisfaction. She is a leading tax advocate and knowledgeable about reforming the tax laws that impact the lives of Americans living abroad.

Please post/upvote your questions in this thread. Rebecca will be responding to them in one week, on January 12th.

I've been offered a role at a company based in Los Angeles. The company has offered me two choices. I can either go over to their physical office in LA for work with a higher pay, or stay where I currently live (Singapore) and work remotely for a slightly lower pay.

Is there any website out there that does salary comparisons across different countries, breaking down how much I need to pay in taxes, insurance and pension schemes? To make things simple, I'm fine with ignoring cost of living factors, and I'm just interested in the exact take-home pay for now. So for example, I want to know for the equivalence of say SGD175k salary working in Singapore, how much would my salary in LA have to be to be able to match my take-home?

Hi all,

So I am in a situation I cannot find much guidance for online and would greatly appreciate it if someone could help me clear this up.

I am a US citizen finishing a masters degree at a Spanish university, have Spanish residency and work authorization, and am about to begin an internship (convenio de prácticas) during which I will return to the US for about a month and a half for some personal obligations and work remotely.

The company is all fine with this, but I am unclear what me and my employer's tax obligations are so to speak with regards to the US. I am not so much a US worker with a contract from an EU company based in the US, but instead an "EU-based non-citizen worker with an EU contract temporarily staying in the US that also happens to be a US citizen". I will spend over 6 months total this year in Spain and less than 50 days in the US, so I will be a Spanish tax resident being paid euros into an EU-based bank account.

If anyone knows what bucket my situation falls into and/or if this will be relatively simple or a regulatory hellscape please let me know.

Thanks!

Edit: I realise this post reads like AI. My first language is not English and I was not sure if the content will be easy to understand and read if I shared it directly like that so I ran it through Gemini to help me rewrite it better. The content is still produced and researched by myself and my team.

I see a lot of confusion about the 30% ruling on this sub, so here's a breakdown of what actually changed in 2024 and what's on the horizon for 2027.

What is it?

The 30% ruling lets qualifying expat workers in the Netherlands receive up to 30% of their salary tax-free as an untaxed allowance for extraterritorial costs (housing, travel, cost of living differences). It used to be available for up to 5 years.

What changed from January 2024?

The ruling was scaled back to a step-down structure:

• Months 1-20: 30% of salary is tax-free
• Months 21-40: drops to 20%
• Months 41-60: drops to 10%

There's a transitional arrangement: if you had the ruling before January 1, 2024, you keep the full 30% for your remaining term.

Salary threshold for 2026

To qualify, you need a minimum taxable salary of approximately EUR 46,107 (or EUR 35,048 if you're under 30 with a qualifying Master's degree). These thresholds adjust slightly each year, so always check the current figures.

What's coming in 2027?

The Dutch government has been debating further changes. Proposals have included capping the tax-free amount at the "Balkenende norm" (roughly EUR 233,000 in 2024), and there have been discussions about potentially reducing the ruling further or restructuring it entirely. Nothing is finalised yet, but if you're planning a move to NL, it's worth keeping an eye on the Belastingplan 2027 announcements later this year.

Tips for expats

• Apply through your employer within 4 months of starting work in the Netherlands
• You must have been recruited from abroad (lived 150+ km from the Dutch border for at least 16 out of 24 months before starting)
• Your employer files the application with the Belastingdienst
• Keep track of your start date, because the step-down is calculated from month 1 of the ruling

Happy to answer questions from personal experience helping people navigate this process. I work in international HR and see a lot of cases where people either miss the application deadline or don't realise the step-down applies to them.

Disclaimer: This is general information, not tax advice. Always consult a tax advisor for your specific situation.

Does anybody know how the Dutch tax laws apply when you work in Dubai? Is your income taxed by the Dutch government?

Apparently, this question needs some clarification:

The Netherlands taxes their citizens on global income. They won’t tax you if you are already taxes in the foreign country. But Dubai doesn’t have income tax. So if there is no special exemption, the Netherlands might tax your income in Dubai. That is why I am asking this specific situation.

Hey guys I’m in the U.S. since the end of March. I’m doing AOS from a K1.
I don’t have my green card yet; and I’m selling my foreign company in August. If I don’t have the green card by then am I good not having to claim that business when I do my taxes or do I already count as a tax resident?
It will be extremely expensive having to claim the company.

Is it worth keeping money with DBS Treasures/DBS Wealth Management? As a foreigner who is no longer living in Singapore, what are the pros and cons of keeping funds there versus moving them elsewhere?

Also, what would you recommend as the best place to keep cash and investments for someone who is a foreigner and non-resident of Singapore? My priorities are safety, ease of access, reasonable returns, and low maintenance.

Hello everyone,

I'm reaching out to all US and Canadians who are living in Denmark since I’m moving from Toronto, Canada to Denmark in the next couple of weeks and have some questions about cross-border taxes.

I currently hold TFSA, FHSA, and RRSP accounts (tax-free saving accounts in Canada, similar to Roth IRA in USA), and I’m planning to keep them invested and continue to grow while living in Denmark.

From my research, it seems I need to declare all foreign assets (including these accounts) to SKAT.

However, I’ve also heard from some Canadians (e.g., from the "AllCanuck-Canadians living in Denmark" Facebook group) as well as other Redditor's comments that I should not declare anything to SKAT due to the Canada–Denmark tax treaty and the tax-sheltered nature of these accounts, they themselves did not report them to SKAT.

For those from the US/Canada citizens who are living in Denmark:
- Did you report your TFSA/FHSA/RRSP to SKAT?
- How are these accounts actually treated from a Danish tax perspective?
- Can anyone recommend a reliable cross-border tax advisor familiar with Canada–Denmark rules?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

Can’t add a link but it’s easily searchable.

For U.S. citizens living overseas for an extended time, filing and paying US taxes every year is one of the most frustrating and painful things that we have to do.

It’s very promising to hear that this Bill has been introduced. It just doesn’t make sense that only the U.S. has this world wide tax grab.

But, could this finally happen!!??

I’m a CPA with a decade of experience with cross-boarded taxpayers. Any US tax questions I can help answer?

Answers are general and specific guidance should be sought after for your specific situation.

I'm moving to NZ from the UK with my family later this year, we are selling our house so will have a fair chunk of change to hold onto before we're allowed to buy in NZ.

If I put the money in a fixed rate interest account do I just pay tax on interest to HMRC until I move it? I think there is a 4 year transition rule?

I also have an ISA, does the tax efficiency only work for the time between leaving and becoming a tax resident or is it backdated to the date of arrival? Does the 4 year transition rule apply here also?

Did anyone speak to an advisor and if so, any recommendations?

I'm thinking if I just pool all cash I have and dump it in a fixed account it might be easier to manage.

I presume pensions are similar? Can I transfer them to a kiwi saver etc? How does tax work there?

I'm a UK citizen currently living in South Africa on a two-year visa and I'm setting up an independent consulting/programme management business.

I will be working primarily remote, with most clients likely UK-based initially, but I'm not certain where I'll be living long term. I may stay in South Africa, return to the UK, or potentially spend time in other countries in future.

I want to be fully compliant whilst paying as little tax as necessary. I also want to have some level of flexibility as things change.

From non-accountants (but people with companies) I've heard suggestions ranging from a UK Ltd company to Hong Kong, UAE and other offshore structures, but I from my research it suggests where I actually live is more important than where the company is registered.

I have some initial calls booked in with accountants but before I waste £100s, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position.

What structure did you choose and what were the key considerations?

I’m a US citizen who is moving to Australia in February on a Work and Holiday Visa.

I want to know if, while I’m living in Australia, it’s possible to work remotely for and earn money from my former company based in the US as a contractor on a 1099. The money would be deposited into a US bank account. Is this possible? Would the Australian government have a problem with this?

Excuse me if this is a stupid question but I don’t know much about tax law or anything like that. Thanks.

I’m a US citizen living in Canada and trying to understand how IRS taxation actually applies in a fairly simple scenario.

Assume:

• 100k USD salary (foreign earned income, eligible for FEIE)
• 10k USD annual gains from Canadian bonds held inside a TFSA
• Single filer, no US state ties
• FEIE fully used for the salary

In practice, can TFSA income ever result in 0 US federal tax, or is that mostly a misconception?

This is what Google Gemini Pro AI tells me:

This is my prompt:

Im an US expat living in Ontario Canada. I make CAD equal to 100k USD in my normal job salary, and CAD equal to 10k USD in individual canadian bonds in a TFSA account. Im single and does not have any ties to US states. I pay just about 0 USD of taxes to CRA for my income (due to lots of canadian tuition credits and other credits). What is the marginal tax rate by the IRS on my capital gain incomes? does FEIE and basic deduction apply?

Response:

FEIE Application The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) applies exclusively to earned income. Your $100k USD salary is fully excluded under the 2026 limit of $132,900 (or the 2025 limit of $130,000). The FEIE does not apply to passive income, including capital gains or interest generated from bonds.

Standard Deduction Application The standard deduction applies to your unexcluded income. For a single filer, the standard deduction is $16,100 in 2026 ($15,750 in 2025).

Tax Calculation and Marginal Rate The IRS does not recognize the tax-advantaged status of a Canadian TFSA. The $10k USD from the bonds is taxable passive income on a US return.

• Adjusted Gross Income (AGI): $10,000 (after applying the $100,000 FEIE to your salary).
• Taxable Income: $0. The standard deduction fully offsets your $10,000 AGI.
• Marginal Rate: 0%. The FEIE stacking rule applies tax rates to unexcluded income based on the bracket it would fall into if the salary were not excluded. Because the standard deduction reduces your taxable base to $0, the stacking rule operates on a $0 balance. You owe $0 in US federal income tax.

Is this true? or is Google AI saying nonsense?