The Oct. 15 deadline looms. That is, any American who filed for an extension is now buckling down to prepare his 2015 tax return… myself included. One related topic that has been generating lots of questions for me lately is foreign disregarded entities. Even professional tax-filers seem to be confused as to how these work. […]
To qualify for the FEIE using the 330 Day Test, you must be in another country (just being outside the United States doesn’t work if you’re in international waters, for example) for 330 days out of any 365-day period. It does not matter if the 330 days are over two calendar years (between Nov. 1, […]
A handful of the world’s no-tax countries are in the Middle East, including Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, and Oman. These are not high on my Places I’d Like To Live list. On the other hand, spending your working years in one of these zero-tax jurisdictions would allow you to grow your retirement nest egg faster.
A friend told me this week that his parents are looking to move overseas for their retirement to save taxes. He recognizes but hasn’t been able to help them understand that that isn’t a realistic objective given their circumstances. My friend’s parents are retired government workers receiving government pensions. Pension income is not eligible for […]
One of the benefits of hosting conferences around the world is the chance they give me to spend focused time with key contacts in key markets. It’s at our conferences that I find out about ear-to-the-ground kinds of opportunities that usually don’t make it beyond a small circle of investor-friends. This week in Medellin, for […]
A reporter from the mainstream press contacted me recently asking if I could introduce him to an American who has given up his (or her) citizenship. The reporter is doing a story on the growing number Americans expatriating and wanted a firsthand story to tell. Unfortunately, none of the people I know who have expatriated […]
A U.S. friend trying to figure out his tax situation after moving overseas recently used the word “tiresome” to explain his position on U.S. taxes offshore. Specifically, he was referring to all the forms he now may or may not need to file. Does he meet the threshold for filing the FBAR and Form 8938? […]
“You’ll notice that Lief is in his office as usual,” I wrote this morning to our Panama City staff. “However,” I continued, “he asks that you pretend that he’s not. That is, except in case of critical emergency or dire need, please steer clear of Lief’s desk today.” Tomorrow is Tax Day for us and […]