Guest Post from expat CPA Diane Siriani Every day we get questions about the expat tax rules and are always amazed how each situation is always a little different and has a different hurdle to cross. Here are some quick answers to those common difficult questions that come up on a regular basis: Foreign Income Exclusion Can only be taken by filing a return and completing IRS FORM 2555. No return, no exclusion! Foreign Bank Accounts If cumulative balance is $10,000 -- including savings, …
Transporting the Dogs: Bringing our Pets to Panama
Our three dogs have finally joined me to live the expat life in Panama, but there were lots of twists and turns in the process since I last wrote about it in December. Back then, we had followed airline guidelines and purchased proper travel kennels for them. We were putting two of the dogs in the larger kennel together, and one in the smaller kennel. Well, after training them so they'd be relaxed and groovy with this arrangement during the stress of the actual flight, the airlines went …
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More Expat Info from the Interwebs
It's time for another list of helpful web sites, blogs and resources for expats and travelers. Here are 11 for your edification and enjoyment. Expat Sites AngloInfo Panama. AngloInfo has been providing English-language information for expats in a variety of locations. The Panama site has just launched. It's a good all-around resource, very focused on Panama City. La Vita e Bella, two American expats living la dolce vita in Florence, Italy. Joburg Expat is the site of Sine, a German serial …
Traveling with Smart Phones
Recently I was in Panama City for a day, before flying back to the US for a family wedding. In my hotel room, I went through the ritual that's becoming familiar to all of us internet-connected travelers: I checked into my flight online and then tried to download my boarding pass. I don't know what happened, but between a very slow internet connection and who-knows-what, I was unable to get the boarding pass. My check-in was fine, but no printed proof. So I took a different tack. I picked up my …
Six VPNs for Expats
I won't rehash all the reasons you need a VPN (virtual private network) -- you can see them here. Just think of it as a must-have service if you're to access all the websites you're used to, and to continue doing business online with your bank back home. (It helps keep others from spying on you when you're using public WiFi as well.) For occasional, limited use, you can use a free VPN service like HotSpot Shield. Unfortunately, the free version serves ads and runs pretty slowly, so if …
US Expats — Let’s Talk Taxes
As the deadline for filing US tax returns approaches, we have a guest post from CPA Diane Siriani. Who Needs to File As a US citizen living abroad, you must file a tax return reporting your worldwide income. So whether you live full time offshore, work anywhere in the world, collect interest/dividends/capital gains, receive retirement benefits, work for any employer, pay tax in a foreign country, own your own business or work for an employer . . . in other words, no matter what the scenario . . …