Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I think that blog is from WhoFan. She moved from Arizona to Lancashire, just recently.:)

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Its nice to be home, as you say, so as to plan my next trip.:p
I want to return and spend more time even though I spent over a month there. I want my own place to live over there but she who must be obeyed says NO! Nonetheless she really enjoyed being over there. I listen to what she tells others and one thing she said is that the people over there are so kind.:thumbsup: and its so beautiful over there.
Some have said that living there is different than just being on holiday. Well I hope so because that getting up every morning to do something different is tiring but also enjoyable.
OK so when I was back in the UK I was like a kid would feel if they were left in a sweet shop. Wow.

Sorry I didn't say that the post was from another link that I read and I knew it would interest some of you so I shared it.

Question: If you subscribe to a magazine and you live in the UK do they still deliver it with your newspaper in the mail slot?

Cheers

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

You did say it was, but I was so interested in looking at the blog that it took me a while to realise it was not your trip but someone else's.

Yes - magazines arrive in the mail slot with the regular mail/post

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Beeduya...Nice to hear from you and you are happy. But would love to hear how things are going in detail we know are probably busy but it would be nice to hear from you.

Cheers.......Are you staying in the US because "She Who Must be Obeyed" doesnt want to go home. Sounds like you would go tomorrow. Loved your trip details it was fun to read all your antics.....

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

To clarify SWMBO was born and raised mostly in California.
Yes I would like to go home tomorrow but I want it all and have a small place to visit back in the US so its not all final, I think.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Cheers....I think thats the perfect solution for those of us with 1 foot in each country. I would trade home here for 2 small homes in the US and the UK. That would be perfection.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Hi everyone. Just caught up a little bit but not too far back I'm afraid - it all moves so fast!

I wrote an update the other day and one thing I forgot to mention is taxes. Everything about this move has been smooth and easy - except for this. I mention it in case anyone reading is thinking about taking out US citizenship. If I had it to do again, I wouldn't.

We are saving a lot of money in healthcare insurance but we're spending about the same amount in specialist tax preparers who know both the US and UK. We do not have a complicated tax situation at all - no money stashed in offshore accounts, not even any pension plans - but we do have a small business and that means reams and reams of paperwork on the US side that didn't exist when we actually lived there. We also have to report any money in 'foreign' bank accounts to the US government. Also, because the tax years don't coincide, we seem to be dealing with taxes all year long.

If you are like cheers and trotty and would like to keep a foot in the US, you'll obviously need citizenship. But if you're like me and don't mind if you never see the place again, be very wary of the complications and costs of citizenship.

I'm hoping that after a few years, we'll get the hang of it and can prepare our own taxes, but for now it's a nightmare.

Like I said, that's literally been the only difficult thing about this move.

Hope everyone is well!

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

I just read about the statistics of Americans denouncing their citizenship and the numbers are climbing each year.
The US government is on top of people renouncing to avoid taxes so it is worth a read. Google it. I found it under "renouncing Citizenship"

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

OMG he tricked me :sneaky: I was surprised he was able to post all those pictures, when I remember he normally has trouble doing that kind of thing ----- as I do!!!

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Sally I thought you sold your U.S. business before you came home, and then bought a business here in U.K. so why are you still paying U.S. taxes?
Im a U.S. citizen but I dont own a home in U.S. or a business, I still file my U.S. tax return every year, and I do it on line for free, just a simple 1040,
I dont earn any income from the U.S. so I never owe any taxes.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Worth renouncing the citizenship? Record numbers of Americans are renouncing now, and the tax thing is one of the main reasons.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

There is, or was, talk of an exit tax for US citizens. I'm not sure if it came to pass. We heard about it at a seminar for people wishing to relocate to Panama back in 2010. Mainly for US citizens, so we didn't follow through to find out any details.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Rodney we won't normally owe US taxes - we did for last year as we were in the US for part of the year. The costs I mentioned are the costs of paying international accountants to file our tax returns. They're not simple because we own a UK business, which all has to be reported to the IRS and because of the way the tax years fall in both countries. Because of the business, our US tax return looks like a freaking novel! When we're done with this, we have to start on the UK returns (both business and personal) so that will be more money.

Oy.

I don't know about renouncing - there are some other issues for us with that. We may get there one day - we'll see.

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

When we moved back to the UK many years ago my husband who is a US citizen only had to fill in a short tax form and paid no US taxes. But then he left nothing behind. If you are living in the UK permantely then why keep anything in the US. It would make sense just to cut all ties with the US. I suppose if you have pensions like we have that would not be possible but those without could just cut the cord.... I see no reason why the US would come after you. I remember when we first decided to move back to the UK we employed a UK international tax company to just give us an idea as to what would be expected of us. The bill was really high. I think the company was the Fry Group.....

Re: Over 40's Moving Back and Catching Up
 

Rodney, do you receive SS income? Is it taxed?