Over half a million people receive some kind of Social Security benefit abroad, including retired and disabled workers, as well as spouses, widows, widowers, and children. If you retire abroad you can receive your Social Security payments outside the United States as long as you are eligible and live in a country where payment is...

Getting connected – organising mobile phones (cellphones) for yourself and your family members, together with broadband for your new home – will be one of your first and most important tasks when arriving in the US. Standards America as an enormous market in its own right has generally followed its own standards. The United States...

When opening a bank account in America, you will want to consider the wide range of options with different variations on basic checking and savings accounts, and the ability to link accounts. Terms and services may vary widely between the different providers. According to Forbes Americas largest banks are: JP Morgan Chase Bank of America...

People move out of state for various reasons – it could be for a higher paying job, better climate, a loved one, or someone who is just looking for a fresh start in life. In recent studies, 40 million American’s move between states at least once in a year. Moving to a new city can...

One of the members of the Expat Network community asked the following question about his duties to file to complete his renunciation of his US citizenship and we asked Greenback Expat Tax Services to respond to his query. Question: I renounced my US citizenship on January 17, 2019.  Since moving to Europe in 2010, I...

I’m an expat who has been living abroad for seven years. As I’m married to a Belgian citizen, I’m also a Belgian resident with right to work in the EU. I would like to start my own business as a freelance copywriter but am wondering if it’s more beneficial to start a business in the...

The basic principle is that Americans living and working abroad are subject to the same tax rules as those who remain in the US.  Americans are subject to US income tax on their worldwide income.  There are the additional reporting requirements of FATCA and FBAR (see Five Things American Expats Need to Know About Foreign...

When moving to America there are a number of options for where you are going to be living and in what type of accommodation. While you explore the options it is often necessary to find temporary accommodation while you decide where you want to live long-term. While you find the solution there are a number...

If you are planning to move to America the culture and lifestyle can seem familiar as we all see it on our screens on a regular basis. Culture America is the third largest country in the world with a population of 325 million. Apart from native Americans the country has developed following a series of...

The US IRS has announced that the Offshore Voluntary Disclosure Program (OVDP) will close in September 2018.  The OVDP was set up to allow US expats with potentially serious offshore compliance issues to avoid criminal prosecution and cap any exposure to penalties.  The IRS indicated that the reason was the ‘significant decline in the number...

It is important to be informed about vaccinations and other health requirements for America. Preventive medicines and vaccinations may require several doses over a period of time before departure. For up-to-date health guidelines, contact your nearest American embassy or consulate as soon as possible. In addition to what is required, you should discuss any further...

People and businesses set up in America for many reasons. With the American economy the largest in the world, for many it is an opportunity for expansion, for others it is more about lifestyle. Whatever your reason for setting up you will need to consider a number of factors: Immigration and visa requirements. You can...