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Ask HN: Taxes while living abroad as a US citizen

2 points by wnolens ↗ HN
I'm contemplating moving out of the US for personal reasons (to a place I am also a citizen) and would like to hear the stories of US citizens who live outside the US.

The tax implications and reporting requirements seem daunting, In particular I plan to pursue primarily self-employment/entrepreneurship which gets hit by the GILTI tax. And increased reporting requirements with huge penalties.

I get that foreign tax credits cover most regular income, but I want to move into a stage of life where my income isn't so regular. This is getting me down and making me feel like a less free citizen of the world, but certainly lots of people make this work?

6 comments

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rfarley04
I have lived in Thailand for 13 years and taxes have been a huge pain. When I worked for a local company, I had to pay taxes in both places, for example. I have since started a US-based S Corp for my contract/freelance work and have payments arrive in family's US bank account, where I tend to keep them in savings while living off my wife's local salary. I use an expact-specific tax service (Greenback) that typically costs ~$650 for me to just give them all my paperwork and they do up the taxes for me. Absolutely worth it to just not have to worry about everything.
wnolens
Thanks for the reply. This is the scenario I want basically. But won't have US family to lean on. $650 for tax filing sounds cheap, I've heard it's in the low thousands especially when considering business taxes.
sillystuff
Depending on which state you are currently a resident of, you will likely owe state income tax too while you are away. If you were moving overseas to work a salaried job, most states have safe harbor exemptions that can protect you. But, these might not apply for self employed (CA's definitely does not apply if living off passive income; i.e., you are taxed).

Changing your domicile to a no income tax state like FL, TX or SD will prevent this, if your old state agrees that your domicile changed. States will argue that you never really intended to live in the new state, that it was just an attempt to dodge taxes and still collect state tax (burden of proof is on you, not your old state). There are a ton of tax / attorney sites with articles about changing domicile properly, to reduce this risk. Horror stories like folks overseas for over a decade owing back taxes, interest and penalties when they return are also easy to find. CA, HI and MN seemed over represented for horror stories when I was looking at this.

vunderba
When I lived overseas (Asia), I applied for FEIE every year which lets you exclude ~120k of earned income from the year. Made having to pay taxes in two countries far less painful.

Unless you intend on making very little (such that the standard deduction would be the better option), I'd think this would be your best bet.

https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/fore...